1910.] The Vegetable Trade of London. 341 



js. per cwt. ; for Cherbourg-, 6s. per cwt. ; and for Channel Islands, 6s. 

 to ys. per cwt. With so many countries consigning their surplus supplies to 

 our ports, the grower of early potatoes is somewhat at a disadvantage. 

 Old potatoes are now practically over for the season, as the new ones 

 come into general use in July, the only demand being for work- 

 houses and public institutions that cannot store unmatured tubers. 



Throughout winter and spring the potato trade was dull, and the 

 demand could at no time be called active. Dunbars, Langworthies, 

 Scottish Triumphs, and Up-to-Dates led the way, at prices between 

 70s. and Sos. per ton, with others, such as British Queens, Royal 

 Kidneys, and Evergoods, following at 505. and 60s. per ton, varying 

 according to the place of origin ; while common varieties have changed 

 hands at 405. to 505. per ton. With potatoes much depends on the 

 soil, so that there is, first, the variety to be considered, then, secondly, 

 the nature of the land where they grew. Thus we find that a common 

 inquiry is, where do they come from? and potatoes are classified by 

 locality, as Kent, Essex, Bedford, Lincoln, Yorkshire, Scotch, of Black- 

 land, the latter coming from the Fen district. 



Onions. — Onions figure largely in London markets, and are on sale 

 in a dry condition, well harvested, during every month of the year. 

 The annual consumption is enormous, for not only is the area culti- 

 vated at home very considerable, but there are substantial imports from 

 abroad, the quantity received in the United Kingdom from abroad in 

 1909 being 7,470,000 bushels. Different foreign countries send onions 

 at different periods of the year, so that there is seldom a lack of 

 imported goods throughout the twelve months. 



The succession of arrivals from abroad is roughly as follows :— Spain 

 sends onions in cases, from July to May. Their condition is perhaps 

 not quite as good at the beginning or_ end of the season, but the 

 growers in Valencia manage to harvest onions so well that, with the 

 aid of a dry climate, they reach our shores in prime condition nine 

 months out of twelve. No other country attempts such a continual 

 •output, and merchants regulate their exports with considerable exact- 

 ness to meet the requirements of British trade. The weight of a case 

 of Valencia onions is about 120 lb., and in May last, when these were 

 in fine condition, the price was 105. to 125. per case. Egypt sends 

 capital onions in bags from April to July. The weight is approximately 

 1 cwt., and at the end of June their value was 45. 6d. to 5s. per bag. 

 Among other exporters of onions, Belgium and Holland send their sur- 

 plus harvest from September to the close of the year. Last season was 

 wet, and owing to the unsettled weather the crop did not ripen well. 

 Onions lie on the ground to mature after pulling, and with rain every 

 few days they cannot be thoroughly dried, so that Belgian and Dutch 

 onions never appeared in the best condition, and in November the 

 price only reached about 35. 6d. and 45. per cwt. 



France, Germany, and Portugal all send onions at different times 

 when London markets can attract them by a good price. 



The home-grown crop of onions was middling, though it also 

 suffered from the rainy season. When onions are pulled up the last 

 week in August there is a thick bine or top attached to the bulb; this 

 is at first green, and the onions require field room until this green 

 top is withered up. This process takes on an average about a month, 



