Originally published in Pearson's Weekly (C. Arthur Pearson Ltd.) vol.1 #23 (27 Dec 1890).
Most of the mistletoe which now supplies the Covent Garden market is of home production—at least, if it is not, it should be. As in vegetables and fruits, so in parasites, there is a decided preference for the British article.
This is not founded upon sentiment. Wholesale dealers in green stuffs are above patriotism. They buy what sells best; and English mistletoe sells best because it keeps its berries longest, and its leathery leaves do not so soon shrivel up under the influence of gas.
We get our main supply from Devonshire, but Hereford, Gloucester, and the western counties generally swell the total. Even this total, however, is not sufficient for the Covent Garden demand. The last week in December apparently absorbs in the capital more mistletoe than all England is able to grow and bring to market. So we are obliged to have recourse to our neighbours; and thus the countries which supply us from over the sea with butter throughout the year, supplement our mistletoe deficiencies towards Christmas.
The Norman and Breton villages, and especially the little hamlets round Havre and Dieppe, do a good trade just at this season, or rather have done it. The branches are cut in tidy shapes, packed in crates, and shipped off to London Bridge, the transit costing less from Normandy than from Devonshire. Here they are sold in crates, at prices varying from fifteen shillings to five-and-thirty, according to the English supply which leads the market.