158 ' AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



this pack has been noticed. Fruit inspectors have reported on 

 it to Ottawa, and Ottawa in turn has congratulated the com- 

 panies. Uninterested persons in various parts of Canada have 

 commented on it in the press. And above all it is reported that 

 the European buyers have caught on to it and now look for and 

 demand the cooperative mark. Thus it can fairly be said that 

 the aim of the companies has been accomplished. 



Great importance is attached to this matter of good pack, 

 and to maintain uniformity the chief inspector visits every 

 warehouse constantly, spending a Httle time at each, inspecting 

 barrels packed, and instructing. His reports concerning con- 

 ditions prevailing at each warehouse are carefully noted and 

 filed. 



New markets are constantly being sought and in this con- 

 nection much valuable work has been accomplished. Markets 

 on the continent of Europe hitherto supplied through a series 

 of middlemen are now being supplied direct and trial shipments 

 are being made to other hemispheres where the Nova Scotia 

 apples, the apples with the flavor, have never previously been 

 tasted, but where it is hoped a demand will be created. 



As the shipping season is only in its early stage it would be 

 premature to talk about what has been accomplished this year. 

 Suffice it to say that up to October 31st, 155,000 barrels and 

 16,000 boxes had been shipped and quite a fair proportion of 

 this quantity had been shipped to fill orders. 



The worst feature of the Nova Scotia crop this year was the 

 enormous quantity of black spot. To a great extent this was 

 due to carelessness on the part of the farmer. Last year there 

 was an entire absence of spot which lulled the grower into a 

 sense of false security. Indeed, he has had a rude awakening, 

 for this year climatic conditions were particularly favorable to 

 the growth of fungus and in orchards where little or no pre- 

 cautions were taken Kings' Fungus reigned supreme while in 

 neighboring orchards where better sense had prevailed Kings' 

 Dollars reigned instead. 



The wonderful success that has attended the cooperative 

 movement is having a telling effect and applications are being 

 constantly received from responsible farmers asking for assist- 

 ance in forming companies in their neighborhoods. Seven such 

 companies are now in course of organization and at the end of 



