Manchester Fruit and Vegctahle Markets. 481 
fields of large extent, and no artificial heat being used, they are 
not ready for the market until August, when they soon become 
very plentiful, and consequently exceedingly cheap. From 100 
to 120 tons per week are in good seasons poured into the 
market, and on such occasions they are sometimes retailed at 
four a penny. 
The English early cucumbers always fetch a good price up to 
about the end of May, when they have to compete with importa- 
tions from Holland. 
Without separately mentioning every kind of vegetable, suffice 
it to say that all and every kind of herb, that has come into 
ordinary use, is plentifully and cheaply supplied to the vast 
community of these districts, through the great central market 
at Manchester, and that not only does the supply diligently wait 
upon the demand, but, by the enterprise of the British growers 
and the importers, the supply occasionally creates the demand ! 
I am bound to say, however, that in speaking of " the enter- 
prise of the British growers," I refer more particularly to those at 
a distance. And I trust my rural friends — the market-gardeners 
and farmers of this locality — will not think me presumptuous, 
and that I am travelling out of my province, if I express the 
opinion that they are somewhat slow in discovering and sup- 
plying many of those things which are most remunerative to 
the grower. For many years they permitted the more heavily 
rented growers in the vicinity of London, who were handicapped 
with the cost of bi'inging it 200 miles to market, to supply us 
with rhubarb. It is within my own recollection that not a 
single cos-lettuce — the only sort fit to be eaten— could be ob- 
tained in Lancashire but what came from beyond London, and 
for many years no one here attempted to grow these things ; 
now everybody grows both. Probably nothing is more easy to 
grow than scarlet-runners, and nothing finds a readier sale in 
the Lancashire markets. I have seen them sold this year at 8^. 
a bushel, but they came from a distant part of the country, the 
local gardener or farmer at the same time bringing a cartload 
of cabbage which sold for very little more. Brussels sprouts are 
also eagerly sought for here, and bring 2s. or 3s. a peck ; but 
the local grower of vegetables says, as he once said of rhubarb 
and cos-lettuce, " I cannot grow them," notwithstanding that 
few things are as hardy. A Stretford gardener's excuse for not 
growing Brussels sprouts, as given to me, was " the land about 
my neighbourhood is too rich." Well, when we see so many 
fields in Cheshire, whose principal crop is rushes, we certainly 
cannot allow the farmer or gardener who occupies them to plead 
the same excuse. The cost of bringing these heavy commo- 
dities from a long distance is great, and should be, if not a 
VOL. XVI. — S. S. 2 I 
