416 Fruit and Vegetable Production. [sept., 



Whole villages or districts have in some cases undertaken 

 the growth of one special fruit, with a view to simplifying 

 the wholesale disposal of the product. The production of 

 fruit is further encouraged by awarding prizes for orchards 

 and gardens. 



German Reports on Foreign Fruit Crops. — In compliance 

 with the wish expressed by members of the fruit trade, and 

 at the request of the Volkswirtschaftlicher Verein, the Minister 

 of the Interior has established a service for the purpose of 

 reporting on the fruit and vegetable markets of foreign I 

 countries. These reports include particulars of coming 

 crops, results of the crops, market and sale conditions, prices, 

 export, industries connected with the fruit trade, and also 

 information respecting the sale of German produce and means 

 by which the sale of German products may be facilitated. 



France. 



Dunkirk. — According to a report received from H.M. Consul 

 at Dunkirk (Hon. R. Walsh), the export trade from that port 

 to the United Kingdom of fresh fruit locally grown, which 

 was at no time an important trade, has declined very much 

 of late years as the gardeners find a more profitable market 

 for their produce in their own country and in Belgium. At 

 one time there was a considerable cultivation of gooseberries, 

 currants, pears and apples all along the coast between Dunkirk 

 and Gravelines, and much of the produce found its way to 

 the English market, but this industry has now practically 

 disappeared and the ground has been cleared for the cul- 

 tivation of beetroot and chicory. 



The only district where market gardening is still carried 

 on to any extent is that of Rosendael, where some 600 to 

 700 acres have been cut up into small gardens and are devoted 

 to the cultivation of cherries, gooseberries, plums and 

 vegetables. The gardeners of Rosendael have formed an 

 association with one of their number as president, who^under- 

 takes all the organisation of the supply, the fixing of prices, , 

 and various other details connected with the trade. It is 1 

 proposed to establish a bureau, with a paid staff, whose / 

 business it will be to find new markets for all garden produce 

 and to collect information affecting the trade. Mr. Walsh I 



