VINE CULTURE AND THE GRAPE. 



427 



In 1871, 426,750 cwts. of box raisins were shipped from Malaga, 

 and in 1872, 563,023 cwts. Tlie number of boxes sent to the United 

 Kingdom in 1872 was 374,949. The average of the five years from 

 1867 to 1871 was 184,077 boxes. 



The green grapes ( TJva porron) are gathered almost entirely in the 

 provinces of Granada and Almeria. These large and oblong grapes, 

 with a thick skin, are sent, still green, during the months of August 

 and September to the north of Europe, packed in barrels of 50 or 

 100 lbs. weight, and filled with sawdust to prevent bruising and 

 becoming mouldy. The exports from Malaga were 10,076 barrels in 

 1870, and 18,224 barrels in 1871. 



There are imported into London about 35,000 barrels (of 50 lbs.) 

 of Spanish or Almeria grapes, which are sold at auction by the fruit- 

 brokers. This is exclusive of the Lisbon grapes (of which there are 

 no available figures), and the large imports direct to Covent Garden 

 market from the Continent. The cargoes arrive at different times 

 from about the last week in May to August. The following have been 

 the quantities of raw fruit (not otherwise described) imported into 

 the tJnited Kingdom, which include pine-apples, melons, apples, &c. : 



Year. 



Quantity. 



Value. 





bushels. 



£ 



1867 



237,598 



139,079 



1868 



337,631 



160,388 



1869 



303,565 



150,619 

 131,967 



1870 



252,228 



1871 



1,128,568 



596,107 



1872 



1,691,703 



1,024,685 



1873 



1,324,608 



762,710 



1874 



2,622,914 



1,109,984 



1875 



2,220,412 



986,248 



The quantity of wine taken for consumption in the United Kingdom 

 has been as follows : 



i Year. 



Gallons. 



Per Head 

 of Population. 





1845 



6,736,131 



0-24 





1850 



6,437,222 



0-23 





1855 



6,296,439 



0-23 





1860 



7,358,192 



0-23 





1865 



11,993,760 



0-40 





1870 



15,079,854 



0-49 





1875 



17,243,942 



0-53 



The following figures show the exports of wine from some of the 

 principal producing countries : 



France, 1875 373,000,000 litres (If pints). 



Spain, 1875 149,807,000 „ 



Portugal, 1871 31,956 pipes of 115 galls. 



Italy, 1874 352,195 hectolitres of 22 galls. 



Greece, 1874 481,057 ocqnes. 



