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THE APPLE MARKETS. 



NTARIO fruit growers who 

 have been digging out their 

 apple orchards by the roots, 

 and beginning over with 

 planting pears or plums, and waiting 

 some years without a crop for the young 

 trees to grow, will feel chagrined this 

 season at the high prices for this king of 

 fruits. 



We can easily see the sense in top- 

 grafting an orchard with those varieties 

 most wanted in the great markets of the 

 world ; but we cannot sympathise with 

 those who get discouraged with the busi- 

 ness on account of one or two seasons 

 of low prices. 



That apples will prove a bonanza this 

 season where quality, size and color is 

 right, is evident from reports from all the 

 markets. Even the Trade Bulletin of 

 Montreal, which is always so guarded 

 in its statements in the interests of the 

 buyers and shippers rather than of 

 growers says in its issue of October 7th : 



"There will unquestionably be a good de- 

 mand for Canadian apples in Great Britain 

 during the coming 'season, as the English 

 crop is very poor, some going as far as to 

 characterize it the worst within the past ten 

 years, and cable reports state that it is nearly 

 all marketed. The Continent, it seems, is 

 nearly as badly ofiF as England, and will have 

 to import considerable, and Germany has 

 already been buying in Belgium. We notice 

 that the large importations of fall fruit into 

 Liverpool, ■ as we anticipated, is having its 

 effect, as Monday's market there showed a 

 considerable decline. On the other hand, 

 Glasgow, which was not ever-supplied, made 

 some good sales of Canadian fruit, which 

 should be satisfactory to shippers. Sales 

 were made in Liverpool last week which net- 

 ted shippers in the West fl.8o to $2, and 

 $2.10 per barrel. Monday's sales, however, 

 will not turn out such good nets. Every one 

 seems to have a good opinion «>f winter fruit, 

 and those who hold them sav thev are confi 

 dent of a profitable market on the other side. 



Of course we write in the interests 



of growers, being ourselves one of the 

 most extensive apple growers in Canada, 

 and perhaps we may at times be too 

 sanguine, but when buyers are paying 

 as high as $2 a barrel for the fruit it is 

 evident that good prices are well assured. 

 Here for example is another extract 

 from the Trade Bulletin of the same 

 date. 



" Ab stated in these columns last week, a 

 large proportion of the winter apples has pass- 

 ed into second hands, and it has since been 

 reported to us on pretty reliable authority that 

 it is known that 150,000 to 200,000 bbls. have 

 been contracted by six or seven different 

 firms. As high as $2 has been paid for the 

 fruit, which would bring up the price to 

 $2.50 and $2.55 per barrel on board cars, 

 which is considered quite high enough. The 

 general range, however, has been from $1.80 

 to $2.05 free on cars. The exports of apples 

 from this port last week were 30 502 barrels 

 against 23,435 barrels for the week previous, 

 and from all ports 42,017 barrels, against 

 23,435 barrels for the week previous, and 

 22,786 barrels for the corresponding week last 

 year." 



W. N. White & Co., London, Eng- 

 land, write in September Trade Journal, 

 the following report on apple crops in 

 Europe and America, which goes to con- 

 firm what we have said : 



" We say, England has a much worse crop 

 than last year ; taken generally, the worst for 

 ten years, and in a fortnight there will be no 

 English fruit left, except a few apples, The 

 pear crop is almost a complete failure. Late 

 plums, owing to the extreme dry weather, 

 are very smaU, and will be finished next 

 week. 



Belgium, the greatest continental exporting 

 country to England, had scarcely any apples 

 at the commencement of the season, and the 

 few now there will be wanted for home con- 

 sumption. In the districts bordering on 

 Holland, which is their principal early apple 

 country, the bulk of the fruit has gone to 

 Germany. 



Holland has the worst crop known for 

 many years. 



France, in the south, has s -me apples, but 

 in the north, owinn t«» dry weathtr, her crop 

 is almost a total failure, all she has to expor^ 



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