1908.] Fruit and Vegetable Production. 



417 



understands that hopes are entertained of establishing a 

 regular export trade to the United Kingdom, particularly 

 in vegetables. The present shipping arrangements, however, 

 would not admit of the British markets being served at 

 fixed times by the existing routes, and the cost of carriage 

 to Calais or Boulogne and thence to the United Kingdom 

 would probably be too high to leave a margin of profit. 



Calais. — Mr. C. A. Payton, H.M. Consul at Calais, reports 

 that very little fruit or vegetables of local production are 

 exported to England ; the large exportation, which takes 

 place in the summer, by special cargo boats belonging to the 

 South Eastern and Chatham Railway arranged so that the 

 consignments reach London early in the morning, comes from 

 the neighbourhood of Paris and the south and centre of 

 France. The principal periods of shipments are for cherries, 

 strawberries, and green peas from 31st May to 26th June, 

 and for plums, peaches, apricots, melons, French beans, &c. 

 from 22nd July to 16th August. 



Boulogne. — In the same way the large shipments from this 

 port are not of local production, and Mr. Vice-Consul Farmer 

 reports that radishes are practically the only local vegetables 

 exported. The climate enables these to be placed on the 

 British markets, via Folkestone, London, and Goole, some 

 three weeks earlier than the home produce. It is quite 

 an ephemeral traffic, lasting about three or four weeks, and 

 ceasing when prices fall below 2d. per dozen bunches. 



Dieppe. — Mr. Vice-Consul Lee-Jortin reports that cider 

 apples are chiefly grown in this district, but after these plums 

 are perhaps the most grown. A certain quantity of the 

 ordinary kinds of plums are exported to the United Kingdom, 

 chiefly in September, the better sorts being either consumed 

 locally or sent to Paris. Table apples are exported in small 

 quantities in October. Fairly large quantities of potatoes, 

 grown in the neighbourhood of Le Mans and Orleans, are also 

 sent away. 



Caen. — Mr. Vice-Consul Hettier reports that cherries, 

 gooseberries, plums and other small fruits are not produced 

 in this district in large quantities, but the local authorities 

 are making a great effort to promote small associations to 

 encourage the growth of these small fruits and also of pears. 

 (4057) 2 D 



