128 Covent Garden Market. 



Observations. — Up to the present period we have had so little frost as 

 to occasion no interruption to the full and regular supply of the market 

 with every article in its usual season, and very little change in price has 

 taken place. On the whole, a good, but not a large, supply has come to 

 hand, at a very moderate rate. 



The same depression which has so much affected business generally has 

 had great influence on the prices in our market. Additional effect has been 

 produced, and continues to prevail, respecting salads and other raw vege- 

 tables, as tending to dispose to cholera, &c; but as the apprehension is 

 decreasing, it is much to be wished that the usual demand may exist as the 

 spring approaches, otherwise the most serious loss to the cultivators will 

 ensue. 



Broccolies, of many varieties, and of excellent quality, have been furnished 

 in large quantities, and at very moderate prices. Brussels sprouts are 

 getting general^ into use, and are sought after : in a few years they will, I 

 have little doubt, supersede the coarser but more prevalent varieties of 

 borecoles and German greens. Coleworts have been of excellent quality 

 and in good supply, not having as yet been affected by frost. Savoys have 

 been plentiful and good, at a moderate price. The larger variety of cabbage, 

 called drumhead, or, vulgarly, cow or cattle cabbage, has been occasion- 

 ally brought, and met with ready sale, not from any scarcity of other sorts, 

 but, from having been persevered in, the public are better acquainted with 

 its good qualities. Onions have maintained a uniform price throughout 

 the season : the supply ample, but not abundant. Turnips are of excellent 

 quality, and moderate in price, with a steady and as yet a regular supply ; 

 and, as there is no appearance of frost setting in at present, no doubt 

 the supply will continue good throughout the winter. Carrots have been 

 plentiful and good ; and, from the recent introduction of the Altringham 

 variety, with an extensive growth of the long orange or Surrey carrots, 

 a large supply is constantly kept up. By the means of the short orange 

 and the early horn, carrots are to be found in our markets in good con- 

 dition throughout the year. Notwithstanding the supply, fair prices have 

 been obtained. All other vegetables have been furnished liberally, but I 

 fear the prices are not such as to afford encouragement to the growers, who 

 are materially affected by the total failure of their winter fruit crops in the 

 last season. 



Despite of the very general, in many places total, failure of the apple 

 crop last season, we have had an ample supply from the Continent at very 

 moderate prices. Some of the better varieties, which are scarce, are dear; 

 but in the ordinary run of goods, which are alone calculated to meet an 

 extensive demand, the duty and charges of import must operate very 

 seriously on the profits accruing to the importers. Some few American 

 apples have also been imported; but, in consequence of the delay in the 

 vessels getting into the river, they seldom reach us in good condition. The 

 favourite variety, the Newtown pippin, is almost the only one which will 

 bear the temperature of the voyage for four or six weeks, which is usually 

 the time occupied. The better varieties of pears, which are seldom plenti- 

 ful, have this season (with all other sorts) been scarce and dear. But few 

 of the newer French sorts are as yet in such general culture in the gardens 

 as to supply the market ; and few of them will, I think, be equal in flavour 

 to our old established favourites. [This opinion of our correspondent is 

 at variance with that of Mr. Thompson, the superintendant of the fruit 

 department in the Horticultural Society's garden, and with our own.] — 

 Q. C. Jan. 17. 1832. 



