268 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
perishable articles is the improvement in all directions of the means of 
transit. Not only can fruit be brought here from all parts of the world 
in good condition, but the communication at home is totally different 
from what it was. We are now in touch witii all parts of the kingdom 
within a few hours, although railway rates still leave something to be 
desired. 
The outlet is widening every year. At the present time we are send- 
ing hothouse grapes daily to all parts of Scotland and Ireland, and weekly 
to America and Sweden, while Germany, besides grapes and other fruits, 
takes large quantities of hothouse cucumbers. 
At one time our main supplies of these came from the Continent, but 
we now have almost stopped those, and are able to serve all the better- 
class cities on the Continent with much better ones than they can grow. 
But one great blot on international trade still remains, and that is 
the prohibitive tariffs maintained by the French Government. We take 
in millions of pounds' worth of fruit from them duty free, and they charge 
at the rate of 2s. per lb. on hothouse grapes, and other fruit in proportion, 
In conclusion I will draw your attention to the value of this trade as 
a national industry, employing directly an immense number of hands, 
and benefiting directly and indirectly many other trades. Scarcely an 
industry can be mentioned that does not benefit in some way from this 
enormous development. As an instance, one place in which nothing but 
grapes, tomatos, and cucumbers are grown has 25^ miles of hot-water 
piping, besides boilers and fittings ; many large growers have to build 
cottages by the row to accommodate their employees, and one of the most 
enterprising has found it worth his while to build an Institute, with mess- 
room and cubicles attached, to accommodate some scores of single young 
men. 
If we look at the imports it is the same : those sending us goods from 
the Canary Islands and the Cape have to get the wood for boxes from 
Sweden and America, wood, wool, and paper from Germany, and nails 
from France, so that it is not only a national but a successful inter- 
national industry which has sprung up in so short a time. Beyond this, 
it is a trade which no one need be ashamed to be connected with, as it is 
the means of bringing Nature's gifts within the reach of all, and all such 
distribution of wholesome and health-giving food must be for the benefit 
of the community at large. 
