Covent Garde?i Market, 383 



deners have been suffering heavy losses through the winter by the depressed 

 state of our markets, and were looking forward to a full season for relief. 

 Some attempts at calculating the loss sustained have been made, but the 

 data on which to determine such calculations must necessarily be so vague, 

 that I have great difficulty in forming any estimate to be relied on ; how- 

 ever, I can have no hesitation in concluding that 100,000/. would fall far 

 short of the total loss sustained, even making liberal allowance for the 

 difference of prices arising from the difference in quantity. I now allude 

 only to the district immediately surrounding London, from which we 

 obtain our principal supplies ; but, in estimating the loss throughout the 

 country (for the mischief has been the same almost everywhere), a sum equal 

 to 2,000,000/. has been spoken of. The season was, previously to the 7th, 

 considered a week or ten days later than last year; but, since that date, it 

 may be looked to as being at least three weeks in arrear as to our general 

 supplies. The early peas have been materially injured, and in some cases 

 completely destroyed. The prices in the list are merely nominal *, very 

 limited quantities having been yet furnished; two pottles only, on the 

 26th (necessarily forced), were sold for 20^., producing half a pint shelled, 

 which sold for 25s., or something less. The largest quantity was a parcel, 

 nearly equal to one half sieve, on the 14th of May. There is no prospect of 

 any supply from the open ground, under the most favourable circumstances, 

 in less than a week or ten days. About the 19th of May has been, for some 

 years past, the time at which they are brought to market. Forced straw- 

 berries have been in good supply, and latterly very low in price ; some 

 parcels of middling quality have been sold at M. to 6d. per oz. Cherries 

 have been some time in the market; the first appeai'ed on the 23d of 

 April, and produced 425. per lb., since which they have been declining in 

 price, and are now sold at 15*. to 21s., the quality throughout the time has 

 been excellent. Grapes have been furnished liberally, and of excellent 

 quality ; the price gradually diminishing as the season has advanced. Pine- 

 apples have not been very abundant, but the demand for them has been so 

 limited that the prices have been low for this early season. 



A few fine peaches were exhibited for the first time on the 16th, but 

 the price in the list is a mere calculation from that which has been asked 

 for them. Asparagus from the natural ground was brought to market on 

 the 14th of April, but not in any quantity until the first week in May, when 

 the supply was checked by the sudden cold and frost of the 6th and 7th ; 

 after which it became scarce until the 12th and 14th, when it was again 

 in supply, but from the coldness of the succeeding nights it has not as yet 

 been so abundant or large as usual. 



Cabbages of excellent quality were in good supply on the 19th of April, 

 and have continued to be liberally furnished since; owing to the cold- 

 ness of the nights, they have not been so fine ; but, in consequence of the 

 scarcity of other vegetables, have brought very good prices, 



Foi'ced potatoes are in great abundance, and of excellent quality; indeed, 

 they have been heavier of sale, and at lower prices comparatively, than 

 almost any other article. Cucumbers wei'e scarce and dear in the early 

 part of April, but since that time have been in good supply, and of excel- 

 lent quality, at reasonable prices. Cauliflowers at first came to hand 

 freely ; but since the frost, which has much injured them, they have been 

 much more scantily produced, and very high prices have been obtained for 

 them. Rhubarb continues to maintain its pi'ice ; and though the market has 

 been occasionally supplied by the waggon load (on the 7th of May as many 

 as six entire waggon loads and four cart loads, with an immense quantity 

 in baskets), yet, from the increasing demand for it, it was all disposed of at 

 a remunerating price. Most other articles have been more or less affected 



* The prices specified have a retrospective range for the last two months. 



