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advantage over London, and some advantage over
most parts of England. This is sufficiently proved
by the large export of butter, whicli can bear the expense
of carriage, and compete in the hands of the
dealer, with the dairies of Hampshire and Dorsetshire.
The average price of butter, during the summer
months,—that is, from April to October, may be
stated at lOi/., and during the rest of the year, it is
about 3d. higher. Eggs, during the summer months,
are 5d. per dozen; and, during the winter months,
from 7d. to Is. Milk is 2d. per quart, and it is generally
excellent.
Let it be kept in mind, that all these prices are calculated
in Jersey currency; that one shilling English,
is thirteen pence, Jersey. If, for example, you purchase
one pound of meat at G^d., the sixpence-halfpenny
is paid by an English sixpence; or if the price
be 6d. you receive a halfpenny back.
During the winter season, there is a separate poultry
market, which is entirely stocked with French
produce. Capons are then often very plentiful, and
excellent; and may be bought, of a very large size, at
2s. 3d. Those of my readers who know what a fine
French capon is, will not think this an exorbitant
price. At this season also, there are abundance of
French partridges, woodcocks, snipes, and hares.
Partridges are sold at about 2s. 6d. a brace; woodcocks
generally a little higher; a fine hare costs from
2s. Gd. to 3s. The supply of game, however, is very
irregular. A continuance of strong northerly winds
may keep the market empty for weeks; and if the
wind then suddenly shifts to the south, capons and
JERSEY. 81
game may be had for half nothing. Moor game is
never seen in the Jersey market.
The vegetable and fruit market is most varied and
abundant. With the exception of the market ot
Thoulouse, which I take to be the very best for country
produce in Europe, I do not remember to have
seen a better than that of Jersey. It is difficult to
particularise the prices of vegetables. I should say,
however, generally, that they are not greatly lower,
than in the most abundant English markets. In the
fruit market, all the English out-door fruits are found;
with some, that belong to more southern countries.
The common fruits,—such as apples, pears, plums, and
the berry tribe, are scarcely cheaper than they can be
bought in Covent Garden ; and some of them are not
so cheap, as the best fruit of counties in England.
Strawberries are certainly dearer. Peaches, however,
I think are more abundant, and cheaper, than they are
in any part of England. But those fruits which are not
forced in Jersey, as they are in England, are of course
cheaper. Good out-door grapes, — which, in a favourable
season, are very palatable, are sold at about Gd.
per lb .; and the finest hot-house grapes are not more
than D. Melons of the best kinds, and of a size that
would cost 5s. or Gs. in Covent Garden, may be purchased
for from 8d. to Is. Gd. French fruit is sometimes
to be had very cheap,—particularly cherries: but
as the excellence of a cherry depends altogether upon
its freshness, those which have been gathered in France,
are worth little.
The fish market of Jersey is very inferior to what
might be expected; it is neither regularly abundant,
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