818 
The Farm Prize Competition o/1890. 
because of its being a reliable bearer. A fig tree was also in 
full bearing. Upon the Judges' visit on the 11th June, Mr. 
Lawry had just received his first return for strawberries for 
the season from Manchester, and was satisfied with the result. 
This was rather a later commencement than usual, as in 
some years the first pickings have usually been ready by 23rd 
May. 
The fruit, when packed, has hitherto been sent by road to 
Saltash Station, which is nine miles away, or by water' to 
Plymouth, and thence transferred to the Great Western Railway, 
but tha recent opening of the new line of the South- Western 
Railway, with a station at less than half the distance on the 
other side of the river, will doubtless be found a great advantage, 
especially as competition between the two companies will 
probably result in lower freights. At present the rate of 
carriage to Scotland is 81. 10s., Manchester .5Z. 15s., Liver- 
pool 5/. 15s., and London 31. 10s. per ton. As much as loOi. 
has been paid for railway carriage in a season. In connection 
with this subject it may be mentioned that Mr. Lawry was 
called as a witness before the House of Lords' Committee on the 
Railway Rates Bill, and gave evidence as to the charges for 
carriage of fruit, &c. 
The finding of the best markets and the quickest routes 
thereto is another instance of Mr. Lawry's active business 
capacity and shrewdness. Having ascertained that the northern 
markets were generally in advance of the London ones towards 
the middle and end of the season, he consigned fruit there ; but, 
not being satisfied with the prices first obtained, made inquiries, 
and found that his consignments arrived too late for securing 
the top figures. This was especially the case at Edinburgh. 
He then entered into negotiation with the various railway com- 
panies, and is now able to get his fruit into the northern 
markets as early as consignments from Covent Garden and 
other districts. Fruit now gathered in Cornwall before 6 A.M. 
one morning is sold in Edinburgh at 6 A.M. the next day, and at 
other less distant markets at a still earlier hour. 
Mr. Lawry's success in the past has naturally secured for 
him many followers. Much land in the neighbourhood is now 
devoted to fruit growing. EvSry cottage garden, or allotment, 
has its bed of strawberries, the produce of which is sold in the 
various local markets or by retail to the passengers on the steam- 
boats which ply up and down the river in the holiday season. 
Occasionally some of the fruit is sold with Mr. Lawry's to dis- 
tant markets, and the proceeds are divided in equal rates, for 
Mr. Lawry is an ardent advocate of co-operation, and is a share- 
