filtered and pasteurised, it acquires very quickly many of the qualities of old wine and is quite ready for sale during the following summer. This system avoids the wastage and expense of storage; and, under it, wine could be delivered to the London retailer at about 4s. per gallon, assuming that freights return to their normal level, and that wine is sold at or about pre-war prices. Last year, owing partly to the large demand for the army, prices were something like four times those previously current.

Looked at from the point of view of alcoholic strength, the price would compare favourably with that of beer, for its percentage of alcohol is very nearly three times that of beer; and in this respect it would be the equivalent of beer at about 1s. 3d. per gallon. It is not unlikely that many men who have acquired a taste for wine abroad would welcome such a produce as an old friend and spread the habit among their acquaintances. A revolution in the taste of the working man is not to be anticipated, but some modification in his habits might ensue. The same wine might also be bottled; and, allowing 2s. 6d. per dozen for this operation, it could be sold at perhaps 14s. per dozen and would be a much better bargain at the price than the cheap clarets now sold.

The export of oil, though small in bulk, is of considerable value. The chief markets for this product are the two Americas. The Central Empires absorb only 7 per cent. of the whole. Of fowls of all kinds the Central Empires take about 2000 tons, valued at 4,000,000 lire. Of eggs, though England still takes more than any other country, the export to it is diminishing. The Central Empires come next in importance, with an import of 6500 tons, valued at some 13,000,000 lire.

It is commonly believed that Central and Southern Italy produce the largest amount of vegetable exports. This is only true, however, as regards oranges and lemons. Omitting these, in 1914, 180,000 tons were exported from the northern provinces, 33,000 tons from the central, 103,000 tons from the southern provinces. The reason why so much attention has been concentrated in Italy on the orange and lemon problem is probably that the production of these fruits is concentrated in a small district, that the collection and sale are better organised and those who run the business can make their complaints heard, and

that the population interested is far more dependent on its single crop than is the case anywhere else. Another fact must be taken into consideration in weighing the validity of the outcry that the stoppage of the export of the orange crop to the Central Empires must plunge the population into destitution, viz. that in 1914, against an export of 103,000 tons, there were delivered to internal markets by rail 335,000 tons, or more than thrice as much, while to this must be added the very considerable quantity delivered by coasting craft.

Looking to the future of this trade, it may be premised that the fears of the districts that have sold their produce to Germany and Austria are exaggerated. They remember what happened in 1888, when FrancoItalian trade was interrupted, and anticipate that they may suffer from a cessation of sales similar to that which was then so disastrous. But the conditions are now different. France was then, if not the only market, distinctly the predominant one; now there are several markets. Then the blow came suddenly on an unprepared country; now the producers will have had several years in which to look out for new markets and to adapt themselves to the changed conditions; and, if they use their opportunities, they may save their trade.

It will probably prove difficult to increase largely the exports to France and Switzerland. These countries, especially France, produce very much the same class of agricultural goods as does Italy, and will naturally be rather chary of encouraging rival imports.

England is far away the most promising market; and it is worth while to analyse this market in some detail with a view to discovering what room there is here for any large increase of imports from Italy. Of fowls, we imported, in 1913, a total of 204,000 quintals,* of which only 12,282 quintals-less than 6 per cent.-came from Italy. Of eggs, Italy supplied only 846,000 hundreds out of 21,580,000, which is less than 4 per cent. Of cheese and butter, out of a total import of 2,800,000 quintals, Italy supplied only 55,000, or just under 2 per cent. That the import of butter might be largely increased is indicated by the fact that in 1903 we took 17,000 quintals,

* The quintal is equivalent to two hundredweights.

though in the following years the trade shrank so rapidly that in 1913 it amounted to only 500 quintals. There is no doubt that the Italian production of these commodities is large and of good quality, and is susceptible of increase. The difficulty of transport at present stands in the way of increased trade.

Fruit comes next. Our oranges almost all come from Spain. Of a total import of 2,942,000 quintals we took 2,612,000 from Spain and 6000, or about 2 per cent., from Italy. In lemons, the position is reversed. Of a total import of 350,000 quintals, 289,000, or nearly 90 per cent., came from Italy. The total British import of fresh fruit was 2,750,000 quintals. The share of Italy in this big trade was quite negligible, being only 06 per cent. Apples came mainly from Canada and United States; pears mainly from Belgium and United States, each sending about 132,000 quintals; apricots and peaches, cherries and plums mainly from France; strawberries, strangely enough, from Spain, which sent over the enormous quantity of 116,000 quintals. Of grapes also most came from Spain-244,000 quintals. In the dried fruit market, Italy does not occupy a much better position. Only 15 per cent. of our imports came from that country.

Yet, the fruit production of Italy is such as to justify a very considerable import into this country. Italian figs leave little to be desired; lemons and cherries are abundant and excellent; but any improvement in the quality of other fruit-peaches, apricots, plums, pears, oranges-would necessarily be a matter of time. Occasionally, first-class samples are met with, but, for the most part, little attention has been paid to the propagation of improved varieties; and the fruit, though as good as much that is sold in this country, has not attained anything like the high standard that the climate and soil would lead one to expect.

Grapes have been considered by men in the London trade from an entirely mistaken point of view. Their attitude is that the Italian fruit should be dealt with on the same lines as the Spanish which they are accustomed to handle. This latter is a hard-skinned watery grape, without any character or flavour. It is suited for packing in casks, and when it arrives is well adapted for cheap sale on the coster's barrow. The Italian grape is

of an entirely different character. Most varieties have a larger berry and almost all a more tender skin, and their flavour is infinitely superior. They should be sent over in small boxes of from 6 to 10 lbs. which could be sold to the consumer as they arrive. Some varieties, such as, for instance, some of the American hybrids, which are largely cultivated in Lombardy, keep in good condition till December. These grapes would compete with the second quality of hot-house grapes, and could be sold at a very moderate rate. The wholesale price varies with the price of wine. Normally it ranges from 200 lire to 400 lire per ton, according to the season and quality.

The importation of vegetables into England is enormous, and is growing rapidly. The average value in the years 1898-1902 was 2,400,000l.; in 1913 it was 5,500,0007. In that year there came from Italy only about 30007. worth. It is, of course, impossible to make statements that would be applicable to the whole country, but generally speaking, it may be said that Italian cauliflowers and probably broccoli are excellent. As to peas, in Central and Southern Italy, at least, varieties such as the best marrowfats, which we like, are seldom to be seen in the markets. Tomatoes, which in Italy are to a large extent grown for making conserva, in the production of which shape and size do not count, are very different from what would be produced from carefully selected seed. Italian onions do not attain, as they might, to the Spanish standard. Melons are grown under good conditions, but with an almost entire neglect of selection as regards seed. Water-melons, though good of their kind, are said by Americans to be vastly inferior to the improved varieties grown in the States; and the same applies to the whole range of squashes and pumpkins. Potatoes are also susceptible of great improvement. The Italian cook definitely prefers the waxy varieties, which are more convenient for frying, while the mealy potato, which is the best for the English market, is neglected.

These facts show that there is a great opportunity for Italy to gain access to an important and, for her, an almost entirely new market; indeed, the trade is one of great importance, and, if properly handled, is susceptible of indefinite growth. If a confirmation of this

possibility were needed, it may be found in the enormous import of bananas into England-a trade which was created a few years ago by the enterprise of a single man; also in the very important fruit export from the West Indies to New York, and the large absorption of British Columbian fruit by Eastern Canada and England -trades which also have come into being quite recently.

What is needed is organisation (1) of production and collection; (2) of transport; (3) of distribution. In the first of these Italy is very backward. She has to learn that the vendor must adapt the preparation and presentation of his goods to the tastes of the purchaser. It is because they have ignored this fact, that our own exporting merchants have failed to win new markets and have lost others; as for instance, to a great extent, the Italian, where they once enjoyed a primacy.

The example of what has been done by our own people in developing Marsala, Sherry, Port, Madeira into fixed types of such wines as they thought would sell in London is instructive. In the same way our merchants have, with great skill and success and by the outlay of time and money, established in Spain a large production of oranges, strawberries, grapes, onions, tomatoes, etc., adapted to the requirements of Covent Garden, and have made suitable arrangements for the collection and shipping of it and for its sale. There seems to be no reason in the nature of the soil, climate or inhabitants, why what has been done in Spain should not be done in Italy, and on a larger scale; while, if Spanish experience is utilised, some mistakes may be avoided and developments in other promising directions introduced.

With regard to cultivation, the matter must necessarily be left mainly in Italian hands, but valuable hints might be widely distributed through the agency of the Consorzi Agrari, as to the quality of produce (it does not matter whether this is more or less suited to the Italian taste) which would be acceptable in this country.

The necessity for a suitable organisation of the collection of produce is imperative. It remains to be seen what system could be worked out for the co-operation of English and Italians in this matter. Two points are absolutely indispensable: that the Italian grower should not be sacrificed to the middleman, and that he