582 



A New Market for English Cider. [jan., 



at least, arrangements for the establishment of an agency in that 

 country have recently been concluded. A leading merchant, 

 who owns about thirty shops, has also offered to sell in each 

 of his establishments the produce of any one English maker of 

 standing for one year, without profit to himself, in return for 

 the information which he learnt at the Exhibition. Another 

 merchant has applied for permission to send his son as a pupil 

 to the National Fruit and Cider Institute, so that he may study 

 the most approved methods here. The samples of experi- 

 mental ciders sent by this Institute have been forwarded by 

 request to one of the Experimental Schools of Agriculture in 

 Holland ; while, in addition, samples sent by various makers 

 have been placed in the Bureau for Colonial Produce in 

 Amsterdam, where they can be tested by anyone desirous of 

 doing so. 



It is clear, therefore, that there exists in Holland at the present 

 time a demand for English cider ; that from the progress which 

 has already been made there is a reasonable certainty that the 

 demand will increase considerably as the article becomes better 

 known ; and that facilities to aid the further introduction of 

 .the product already exist. 



The financial aspects of the question appear to be thoroughly 

 satisfactory, assuming that certain arrangements on the lines 

 of some suggestions, which will be considered later, can be 

 made. 



As far as the price commanded by a high-quality cider 

 in Holland is concerned, it may be stated that the general 

 market price for cider is at present decidedly higher than in 

 this country, and that this price is obtainable for ciders which 

 are of an inferior' quality and not so well suited to the Dutch 

 palate as those sent from here to the Exhibition. Cider is 

 considered by the Dutch as a wine, and is used somewhat as 

 such accordingly. The price which it commands is, there- 

 fore, similar to the prices obtained for the lower grades of 

 wine. Like wine, however, a duty of one shilling and six- 

 pence per gallon is imposed upon cider, and the high price 

 obtainable is therefore counterbalanced by the effect of this 

 duty. There is, however, considerable reason to suppose that 

 as a result of representations made to the officials of the Dutch 



