312 
main crop produce. But from the Canary Islands, the Azores, Malta, 
Spain, and the south of Pein and other sources, steady supplies of 
new potatoes have been se 
Besides the new quee and onions imported, large quantities of raw, 
unenumerated vegetables, such as peas, French beans, lettuce, and other 
* salads," cauliflowers, spinach, beetroot, radishes, turnips, and cucumbers 
7 
are sent from Den nmark, Germany, Holland, France, Portugal, Madeira, 
value of ‘these raw vegetables was 467,2871., while in 1875 it was only 
132,1247; divided mainly between Holland; France, and Germany. 
This importation of raw vegetables is spread fairly oed over each 
month in the year, though it is somewhat lar arger in June, July, an 
August. It interferes d od with the prices of deber in the ear ly 
spring months, and it is from primeurs and delicate vegetables and salads 
that market-gardeners have hitherto made their chief gains, ‘Some profit 
is still made from young “bunching” onionsin May and June, as onions 
are not imported in this form. These are now, pavers, produced by 
farmers who, as a market-gardener remarked lately, ‘are driven. into ib 
and look over the Sica and s to egit their Pe urs.’ Until 
Lineal hire, some districts, asparagus was former 5 ciii with 
considerable profe to the growers, especially for the first fortnight or so 
of the season, but the impor tation of asparagus from ‘Toulouse, Dijon, 
Paris, and parts of Spain, which begins in January and continues until 
about the time when English asparagus is ready, has in recent  yeurs 
rendered this erop less profitable. 
“The high pe of market-garden land near London, in Middlesex, 
Essex, Kent, and Surrey, as well as the dearness and scarcity of labour, 
also handicap the industry. This applies to all market-gardens near 
large centres of population where "r labourers can get good wages in 
inclined tó^work on the ve . In the production of such crops : as 
onions, carrots, celery, and lettuce, a great deal'of. labour is absolutely 
essential, not. only — their eultivation, but also for preparing them for 
market, and in this respect farmers in many localities would have a 
considerable dieit aa Market-gardeners in the vicinity. of London 
and other populous places are able to cart their. vegetables to market in 
their own conveyances. Farmers who live near railways. communieat- 
ing directly with markets, are able to consign large quantities of vege- 
tables. at fairly. reasonable rates, though they and market-gardeners 
complain of the rates charged for small consiguments o of their produce. 
echnieal knowledge is necessary in the production of vegetables. 
Somé market-gardeners are particularly clever, energetie, and hardwork- 
ing, S on the look-out for some new **idea," and many of them, 
.from thei connexion with salesmen and their propinquity to o towns are 
: An Acie ih. bon egetable. markets, and are well and EA 
eg 1 ZA 
suppl oly and demand. In these respects th ve 
e ove Ver farmers, S who do not, as a rule, care about sm. 
