GROWTH OF THE FRUIT TRADE. 
267 
cucumbers and tomatos. Throughout May the quantity on our market 
would average quite a ton daily, all morning-gathered, and put up in 
half-pound or pound punnets. 
Tomatos, from being quite a novelty twenty-five years ago, have 
become a greater trade than any, and in nothing have our home growers 
succeeded better in keeping pace with the foreigners than in these, the 
quantity grown under glass alone being many thousands of tons, while in 
suitable autumns a great many are ripened out of doors. We have 
almost killed the tin trade in them, and those imported fresh have to be 
the best varieties, well graded and packed, to sell at all. The only time 
imported ones are likely to pay is from November till April, and as this 
fits in with the season in the Canary Islands, they come during that 
time by the shipload. 
Tomatos, being a quick crop, have always been grown for a year or 
two in houses planted with vines, and it is a recognised fact that giving 
as they do a quick return, they have contributed largely to the increase 
in the growth of grapes. 
To show the increase of those coming from the Canary Islands : in 
the year ending June 1889 the total number of packages was 5,617 ; the 
year ending last June was 492,075, or about half a million bushels. 
Distribution. — It will readily be seen that with all kinds of produce 
crowding on us in such large quantities, it has not been an easy matter 
to cope with it, especially the more perishable kinds ; and it has been, I 
might say, my sole aim to find outlets. I have never had to trouble in 
the least about supply, as I soon found that while a salesman could find 
customers he would always be supplied with goods, and I am rather proud 
of a fact which is almost unique, and that is, never having had to ask a grower 
to send to me. It has taken me all my time and energy to keep pace with 
the supply, and it would not have been possible to have done this with- 
out the constant increase of imported goods, which enabled fresh shops 
to be opened and gave them something to sell all the year round, and so 
establish themselves and form channels for home-grown supplies when 
ready. Beyond these we have been able, by the reduced prices and more 
constant supply, to push the trade amongst grocers and stores in all 
parts of the kingdom. 
Packing. — Another great help to the development of trade is care 
used in grading and packing, and great credit is due to our growers of 
hothouse produce for success in that direction. I cannot say as much 
for growers of orchard fruit generally. It seems almost impossible to 
make' them realise the necessity of pleasing the eye. Quality is of course 
an important feature, but it stands second in the fruit trade to appearance. 
If a good fruit looks well the public will buy it and ask for it again ; but if 
it does not look well they will not buy it at all. Foreigners have realised 
this, and take no end of trouble to put fruit not only on the market, but 
on the consumer's table, in as perfect a condition as possible. They also 
grade well, knowing that some customers have a demand for best and 
largest fruit, while others can do best with medium. By suiting both 
they put more money in their own pockets and help to consoHdate a 
trade. 
Transit. — Another great help to the growth of a trade in such 
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