342 



Consumption of Potatoes. 



5,500,000 tons yearly. Of this quantity all but 3 per cent, 

 is furnished by the home production. 



The Channel Islands and France are the principal 

 purveyors of the small imported supply. From the former 

 we receive annually nearly 60,000 tons, and the consign- 

 ments from France amiount to between 40,000 and 

 60,000 tons in the year. The imports from the Channel 

 Islands consist almost entirely of early varieties which 

 reach our markets before the British crop is ready for 

 lifting, and consequently command a higher price. Their 

 average declared value in recent years has been from 9s. 

 to 9s. 6d. per cwt., whereas the French cargoes have usually 

 been valued at 5s. to 6s. 4d. per cwt. Germany, Holland, 

 and Belgium are the more important of the other countries 

 distinguished in the Trade Returns as exporters of potatoes 

 to this country. The gross supplies received from these and 

 other sources during each of the past five years have been 

 as follows : — 









Year. 







Country. 

























1893. 



1894. 



1895. 



1896. 



1897. 





Tons. 



Tons. 



Tons. 



Tons. 



Tons. 



France 



Channel Islands - 

 Belgium 

 Holland r 

 Germany - 

 Canary Islands - 

 Malta 



Other Countries - 



44,317 

 57,046 

 23,009 

 7,696 



1,635 

 2,926 



2,723 

 2,055 



44,799 

 56,978 



4,767 

 13,557 



4,621 



2,937 

 1,172 



6,359 



65,242 



50,156 

 10,022 

 1 1,922 

 41,562 

 3,448 

 1,138 

 4,417 



37,595 

 62,279 



193 

 2,418 

 869 



5,049 

 2,047 

 1,780 



57,337 

 52,578 

 29,877 

 28,103 

 17,900 

 2,862 

 1,756 

 5,646 



Total- - 



141,407 



135,190 



187,907 



112,230 



196,059 



