JAMAICA . 



BULLETIN 



of Jthe 



BOTANICAL DEPARTMENT- 



New Series.] JULY, 1895. Y ° h /* 



J Part 7. 



PRICES OF VEGETABLES IN NEW YORK 



MARKETS. 



The following letter from Messrs. Gillespie Bros. & Co., New York, 

 gives reliable particulars about ordinary market values of vegetables 

 during the Winter Season. 



"We think the vegetables which can be most profitably grown in 

 Jamaica to meet the American winter markets are, tomatoes, cucum- 

 bers, egg plants, onions, potatoes and cabbage. 



" The prices obtainable are as follows : Tomatoes $3 to $5 per carrier 

 of 6 baskets ; Cucumbers $4 to $5 per carrier of 6 baskets. These must 

 not be less than 6 to 10 inches long and straight shaped and green 

 colour. Egg Plants must be of the purple variety and would bring 

 from $3 to $6 per carrier or $6.00 to $10 per bbl. Onions, if from red 

 Bermuda seed packed in crates of 321bs. each from $2 to $2.50 per 

 crate. They are crated in sizes, No. 1 and No. 2. Potatoes, graded 

 No. 1 and No. 2. No. 1 bring from $6 to 8.00 per bbl. No. 2 $4 to 

 $5.00. Culls or very small potatoes not wanted. Cabbage, packed in 

 bbls. is worth $2 to $4 per bbl. which should contain from 60 to 70 

 cabbages each of medium size, about 3 to 4 lbs, each. 



"We are prepared to receive consignments of vegetables and fruits, 

 for sale on this market, and as to quantity we think any amount within 

 reason, which Jamaica is likely to produce, will find a market here, 

 providing it is shipped during the winter months, say from December 

 to April. Onions sell best from January to March, Potatoes from 

 January to April, and Cabbages from March to May. 



The success of such shipments entirely depends on the care and 

 selection in packing and shipping. They come here at a time when 

 native grown vegetables cannot be obtained and only the more wealthy 

 classes can afford to indulge in their use, therefore they must be of 

 desirable quality and appearance or these people will not purchase them. 



"In regard to packages, the carriers- which contain 6 baskets, can 

 be purchased complete in knock-down shape for shipment at $18 per 

 hundred sets if ordered in lots of 500 or 1000. 



" By next steamer we shall be sending to Messrs. Emanuel Lyons 

 and Sons, Kingston, a sample carrier and they will, we feel sure, be 

 pleased to show them. 



" All the vegetables we have mentioned should preferably be packed 

 in these carriers, except egg plants which can also be packed in bbls. 

 Potatoes should be packed in bbls. and onions packed in special crates. 



" Any bruised or defective fruit should not be shipped as it not only 

 spoils the appearance but is likely to lead to the ruin of the balance of 

 the shipment." 



