ENG-1947 — Page 75

PICULS

1946

60.000

50,000

40,000

30.000

20.000

110,000

1947

SALES

KOWLOON WHOLESALE VEGETABLE MARKET

MONTHLY

LOCAL PRODUCE

·30

ITOTAL

LOCAL

$20

plus

IMPORTED

IMPORTED PRODUCE

OCT NOV. DEC. JAN. FEB. MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT.

= AVERAGE PRICE PER PICUL

NOV. DEC.

The chart illustrates the monthly sales of vegetables in piculs; the portion below the lower line represents imported produce, and that between the two lines local produce; the upper line thus illustrates the total weight sold. The zigzag line joins the monthly average wholesale price of both-in dollars per picul.

Fertilizers.

The Japanese built at Castle Peak a battery of concrete tanks for the maturation of nightsoil from the urban area for use as fertilizer; these tanks were used for a time but latterly fell into disuse. These were put into commission again in 1946, and during 1947 more than 54,000 piculs (more than 3,000 tons) of nightsoil, matured for three weeks in order to destroy pathogenic bacteria, were sold to farmers in different parts of the Territories. A scheme for the construction of a large fertilizer factory to use, when completed, the entire output of nightsoil of the Colony, is among the projects being considered in connection with the Colonial Development and Welfare Fund. Large quantities of ammonium sulphate and of peanut-cake were also distributed through the marketing organisation.

Seeds of varieties of foreign vegetables of proved worth were purchased in bulk in England and U.S.A. and, in thousands of small packets, were sold at cheap rates to Hong Kong farmers.

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