SUBSIDIARY INDUSTRIES 141 



much better position in regard to the utilization of their 

 surplus produce, so much so that two years ago one 

 firm in this country turned out in the course of the 

 season no fewer than 1,000,000 cans of fruit. Other 

 firms have since taken up the enterprise, which the 

 Evesham growers expect will develop before long into a 

 business of considerable importance, with wide possi- 

 bilities of an export as well as of a home trade. In any 

 case, it should afford a better alternative, in times of 

 ' glut,' than that of allowing plums or other fruit to rot 

 on the trees because, with the extreme lowness of 

 market prices, it will not pay to pluck them. 



In the matter of vegetables, again, it is especially 

 pointed out that Evesham has paid great attention of 

 late years to the growing of asparagus, the market for 

 which has greatly increased during the last decade. 

 There was a difference of opinion among the authorities 

 I consulted as to the real extent of the area devoted to 

 asparagus in the Evesham district. Some thought 

 there would be fully 4,000 acres, while others considered 

 that 3,000 would be nearer the mark. But there was 

 unanimity in the view that the production could 

 be extended over thousands of acres more if the 

 surplus, after the ordinary markets had been supplied, 

 were tinned, and either sold at home in place 

 of that coming in the same form from France and 

 Germany or else exported to our colonies or foreign 

 countries. 



Further encouragement in these directions is derived 

 at Evesham from the experiences of the United States. 

 There, it seems, no fewer than 20,000 fruit and vegetable 

 canning factories have been set up, giving direct em- 

 ployment to 1,000,000 persons, and indirect employment 

 (in the way of making tins, printing labels, etc.) to 

 4,000,000 others. The fruit and vegetables used in 



