754 = 455 
Vegetables. 
Its mild 
climate. 
London before those vegetables are ready in England. T 
value of vegetables imported into this country in 1876, w 
199,413/., as against 132,124/. in 1875, of which those sc 
from France were valued at 92,627/., as against 77,265/. 
1875. 
Cornwall. Next in importance to the above-described districts is that 
Cornwall. Though the extent of this is only 977 acres of acti 
market-garden ground, vegetables of all kinds, and potatt 
especially, are grown upon the farms in the western part of t 
county. Brocoli is the chief vegetable grown here, coming 
cut very early in December in some seasons, and never la^ 
than January, on account of the mild climate of the wint 
In some winter seasons, as, for example, in 1875, at the Lam 
End, the; thermometer has been at 50° Fahr. in the shade 
Christmas time. Asparagus has been cut in the open air, a 
primroses have bloomed in these months. In 1875, brocoli fn 
Penzance were sent to London at the rate of 25,000 dozens j 
week, and sold in the streets at very low prices, and the Cornw 
brocoli season was over by the end of January, 1876. Broc 
rarely fails in Cornwall ; but in Surrey, Kent, and other plac 
it fails once in four or five years through the spring frosts. T 
soil in the west of Cornwall is well suited for the production 
vegetables, being a rich easily-worked loam upon the grcensto 
and felstone series of Trappean rocks, composed of hornblen 
and felspar. Brocoli are grown in alternation with potato 
the plants being dibbled in by women and children in June 
July, and the land is thoroughly well manured. They are s( 
to London, Manchester, and Liverpool in wicker-work baske 
holding 100 heads. About 6500 heads are grown upon an a( 
upon an average. Though rents are high and expenses of 
kinds are heavy, brocoli-growing pays the Cornish people we 
They can send these vegetables to London a month earlier th 
the market-gardeners in the Channel Islands and those who se 
cauliflowers from Cherbourg, and they have the command oft 
best market in the world at a season when fresh vegetables i 
luxuries indeed. 
Early potatoes are grown in considerable quantities in t 
part of Cornwall lying between Penzance and Truro. Genera 
the potato sets are planted directly after the brocoli comes « 
Potato-sprout- having been first sprouted* about an inch before they are plant 
ing process. which is held to give a month's start to the sets. These, usua 
of a sort called Lemon Kidneys, are dug in April, and are s^ 
Brocoli the 
chief 
vegetables 
produced in 
Cornwall. 
* Potato sots are put in shallow boxes or baskets in lofts, above stablei 
cowsheds, or any place where the temperature is high, to make them spi 
prematurely. Care is taken not to break oft' or bruise the sprouts. 
