filtered and pasteurised, it acquires very quickly many the qualities of old wine and is quite ready for sale dur the following summer. This system avoids the wastin and expense of storage; and, under it, wine could delivered to the London retailer at about 4s. per gall assuming that freights return to their normal level, ɛ that wine is sold at or about pre-war prices. Last ye owing partly to the large demand for the army, pri were something like four times those previously curre: Looked at from the point of view of alcoholic streng the price would compare favourably with that of be for its percentage of alcohol is very nearly three tin that of beer; and in this respect it would be t equivalent of beer at about 1s. 3d. per gallon. It is unlikely that many men who have acquired a taste wine abroad would welcome such a produce as an friend and spread the habit among their acquaintanc A revolution in the taste of the working man is not be anticipated, but some modification in his habits mig ensue. The same wine might also be bottled ; and, allo ing 2s. 6d. per dozen for this operation, it could be sc at perhaps 14s. per dozen and would be a much bett bargain at the price than the cheap clarets now sold.

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

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

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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 Lot 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.

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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 rapida that in 1913 it amounted to only 500 quintals. There h no doubt that the Italian production of these commoc ties is large and of good quality, and is susceptible t increase. The difficulty of transport at present stands z the way of increased trade.

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

Yet, the fruit production of Italy is such as to justif a very considerable import into this country. Italia figs leave little to be desired; lemons and cherries ar abundant and excellent; but any improvement in th quality of other fruit-peaches, apricots, plums, pears oranges-would necessarily be a matter of time. Occasion ally, first-class samples are met with, but, for the mos 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 any. thing 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

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pid 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 5,500,000l. 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 enormo import of bananas into England-a trade which win created a few years ago by the enterprise of a sing man; also in the very important fruit export from th West Indies to New York, and the large absorption British Columbian fruit by Eastern Canada and Englar -trades which also have come into being quite recentl

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

The example of what has been done by our ow people in developing Marsala, Sherry, Port, Madeira int fixed types of such wines as they thought would sell i London is instructive. In the same way our merchant have, with great skill and success and by the outlay time and money, established in Spain a large productio of oranges, strawberries, grapes, onions, tomatoes, etc adapted to the requirements of Covent Garden, and hav made suitable arrangements for the collection an shipping of it and for its sale. There seems to be n reason in the nature of the soil, climate or inhabitant why what has been done in Spain should not be done i Italy, and on a larger scale; while, if Spanish experienc is utilised, some mistakes may be avoided and develop ments in other promising directions introduced.

With regard to cultivation, the matter must neces sarily be left mainly in Italian hands, but valuable hint might be widely distributed through the agency of th Consorzi Agrari, as to the quality of produce (it does no 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-opera tion of English and Italians in this matter. Two point are absolutely indispensable: that the Italian grower should not be sacrificed to the middleman, and that he