480 
The Sources of Supply of the 
Mr. Osbaldiston was undoubtedly the first who brought rhubarb 
into the Manchester market, and he also claimed a similar 
honour for strawberries. 
Vast quantities of green vegetables are grown in and about 
Stretford, where the land is very highly cultivated, for this 
market ; and lx^ Stretford and the adjacent parishes of Ashton- 
upon-Mersey, Sale, Baguley, and Timperley, many strawberries 
are grown. Apples, pears, and plums were formerly plentifully 
grown about Stretford ; indeed, forty years ago there were no 
more fruitful orchards north of the Trent, but the same city 
which has contributed so much to, the wealth of the owners of 
the soil around it has, with its polluted atmosphere, made sad 
havoc with their trees, which now " but cumber the ground ;" 
and consequently are fast disappearing under the axe to make 
way for the growth of things more profitable. 
Celery usually makes its first appearance in the market about 
the second week in July. It is grown extensively upon the 
moss land in the parish of Ashton-under-Lyne, and is the 
variety known as " Lady White." This is followed by the 
" Seymour White," grown principally about Sale, Ashton-upon- 
Mersey, and Timperley ; and next comes a supply from the 
neighbourhood of Retford in Nottinghamshire, which is called 
the " Grove-red." A considerable quantity is also sent from 
Lincolnshire ; from the two last-mentioned places the supply 
lasts into April. 
English onions are chiefly supplied from Bedfordshire ; from 
August to May there are frequently from GO to 80 tons sent to 
Manchester from that locality in one week ; the carriage costs 
from 18s. Ad. to 20s. per ton. Between July and April large 
quantities come from Holland ; rates for carrying about 23s. 4cf. 
per ton. 
From September to June there are heavy arrivals from 
Germany ; the lowest rate for bringing them is 26s. lOrf. per 
ton ; when brought from the most distant part of that country 
the rate is as high as 5Z. per ton. Of course such importations 
can be made only when the price is very high. 
Arrivals of Belgian onions are in their plenitude during August 
and September ; rates about 24s. per ton. From October to 
January, Bordeaux sends us a considerable quantity ; they are 
shipped in cases of about 1 cwt. nett ; cost of carriage, 2s. \d. 
per case. During May, June, and July the supplies are from 
Portugal ; and in the same months, on a limited scale, from 
Malta and the Levant ; rates from Liverpool 7s. 6f/. per ton. 
Cucumbers here not inappropriately follow onions, and for 
the additional reason that — like that useful and popular bulb— 
they are grown chiefly in Bedfordshire. They are planted in 
