| Market Gardens of Penzance
 arge pieces of ground about Penzance are laid out
in market gardens, in which potatoes and brocoli are especially cultivated.
Early potatoes were sent out from this neighbourhood in great quantities
as far back as 1820. Soon after that time I recollect the carts from Penzance
(twenty or thirty on a market-day), coming to Falmouth. Besides the potatoes
consumed in the town, large quantities were taken abroad by the Falmouth
packets. In 1828 some brought to Falmouth found their way to London by the
steamers from Dublin, which used to touch at that port; still the greater
part of the market produce was disposed of in the county. A new business
was added about 1838, and it began in this way; Mr. [Sharrock] Dupen, the
steward of the Herald and afterwards of the Cornwall steamer, which went
from Hayle to Bristol, took up to the latter port some early brocoli, and
they sold so well that he continued his adventure season after season. Of
course this did not escape observation, and others tried the experiment,
and so far succeeded that they carried their trade to London, and far into
the midland districts of England. The trade in brocoli and potatoes gradually
increased as facilities for sending them away became more fully developed,
and now above 2,000 tons of brocoli are disposed of yearly. In 1838 new
potatoes were I believe first sent direct from Penzance to London; at this
time the best potatoes were to be had in July and August at four-pence to
six-pence the gallon, and the later kinds mostly consumed at home ranged
from four shillings and six-pence to eight shillings the Cornish bushel
of twenty-four gallons; the latter was considered an enormous price. Now
in the early potatoe season buyers are here from Leeds, Manchester, Hull,
Wolverhampton, London, etc., and the quantity sold is very large. I have
known one dealer to send away in a few weeks more than £3,000 worth.
Besides potatoes and brocoli large quantities of fruit are sent at times
from this district to the midland counties, and even as far as Glasgow.
Forty years ago fine strawberries were sold in Penzance at two-pence and
three-pence a quart. The cultivation of this fruit largely fell off, but
lately gardeners in the higher part of Gulval and Ludgvan have again been
turning their attention to it, and from Tremenheere many baskets have been
sent to London. Onions and asparagus are also often sent away from this
neighbourhood. At Penzance an exhibition of flowers, fruits, and vegetables
is held every year in connection with the Western Cottagers’ Gardening
Society; this society was instituted in 1836, and its first exhibition was
held in the Assembly Room, at the Union Hotel.
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