PRINXE EDWARD ISLAND FRUIT GROWERS. 



AST mouth we noted the form- 

 ation of a Fruit Growers' As- 

 — -^ sociation in P. E. Island, 

 which had in view the further- 

 ance of the fruit growing industry in 

 that province. Now we have a report 

 of one of the first meetings of the 

 Society, at which the Lieutenant Gov- 

 ernor and other distinguished persons 

 were present, and plans were laid for 

 sending a trial shipment of apples to 

 England in cold storage. 



Hon. Senator Ferguson expressed his ap- 

 preciation of the work and importance of the 

 Association and declared it to be his firm 

 conviction that Prince Edward Island is des- 

 tined to rival Nova Scotia in the production 

 of superior fruit. He had just returned from 

 the Halifax exhibition, whither he had taken 

 some 56 samples of Island apples — 30 from 

 his own small orchard ; and he had expert 

 authority for the statement that in size and 

 bloom they compared favorably with the 

 apples exhibited in Halifax. He was satisfied 

 that with the adoption of the improved 

 methotla of the day as to spraying, we could 

 easily tight the pests which menace our 

 orchards For the first time he had this year 

 sprayed his own orchard, following closely to 

 the formula laid down in the Experimental 

 Farm's report, and was happy to say with 

 the most favorable results. Senator Fergu- 

 son then spoke of the necessity of producing 

 those apples which will best suit the British 

 markets. He said that in Nova Scotia 

 orchardists were narrowing down instead of 

 extending the list of varieties produced ; and 

 in effecting this the science of top grafting 

 was being generally called into requisition, 

 thus making use of the growth of trees pro- 

 ducing unsuitable fruit. He spoke also of 

 the importance of a proper package in which 

 to ship our apples and the manner of filling 

 these packages, declaring that ' ' slack packed " 

 apples were fatal to success. Color counted 

 for much in the British market, and it was 

 found by grafting on the Red Astracan, a 

 superior bloom could be obtained for the 

 superior varieties. 



Mr. Wise, the Treasurer of the Associa- 

 tion, having arrived submitted his report. 

 The receipts, he stated, included besides the 

 members' fees a grant of $150 from the gov- 

 ernment, which he had taken good care to 

 secure before Mr. Warburton left office. 



On motion of Father Burke, seconded by 

 John Robertson, the thanks of the Associa- 

 tion was accorded the government for having 

 so far met the prayer of their former peti- 

 tion. 



His Honor, Lieutenant Governor Howlan 

 expressed his belief, as the result of a long 

 experience, that Prince Edward Island could 

 produce fruit second to none. He was glad 

 that, as the result of judicious advocacy, we 

 now possess a number of first-class orchards 

 and was glad also to note a growing spirit of 



3 48 



healthy emulation among the people of this 

 Province. He had done his best upon every 

 occasion to help the good work along. But 

 the future generations only would reap the 

 benefits of the work the Association has now 

 done. He spoke of his interest in the trial 

 shipment of apples and declared the necessitj- 

 of making a judicious choice of varieties and 

 of having them marketed in the best possible 

 manner. He said that the British market 

 was now our natural market. But the time 

 might not be far distant when other coun- 

 tries would offer us still better inducements. 

 He disagreed with Senator Ferguson aa to the 

 importance of color in the fruit, and said that 

 he had but yesterday conversed with Rev. \V. 

 Hennebury, of Tasmania, who declared to 

 him the color went for nothing in their mar- 

 ket ; but apples of medium size and superior- 

 flavor would always be saleable. 



Senator Ferguson, Rev. A. E. Burke and 

 others also addressed the Association upon 

 matters connected with fruit production and 

 marketing. The following resolution, moved 

 by Rev. A. E. Burke and seconded by H. A. 

 Stewart, Hamilton, was then put to the 

 meeting and unanimouslj' adopted. 



Resolved that the Fruit Growers' Associa- 

 tion of P. E. Island make a trial shipment of 

 100 barrels ot apples to England by next trip 

 of the cold storage steamer Lake VATinnipeg. 



The following report was then received and 

 read : — 



Your committee appointed to consider and 

 report on the varieties of apples best adapted 

 for shipment to England submit the follow- 

 ing : Wealthy, 25 barrels ; Alexanders, 25 

 barrels : Golden Russets, 25 barrels ; and 25 

 barrels embracing equally Kings and Ribston 

 Pippins. The above varieties we believe to 

 constitute the best to send m cold storage as 

 a trial shipment of 100 barrels. We would 

 also recommend that the barrels made by Mr. 

 Full, if said barrels are suitable, be procured 

 for the shipment contemplated. We would 

 also suggest that in packing said apples the 

 greatest care should be exercised ; supervision 

 of packing by some capable person or persons 

 would be absolutely necessary. 



John Robebtson, 

 D. A. Sharp, 



RiCHAKD BCRKK. 



On motion of Senator Ferguson the follow- 

 ing motion was then adopted : 



Resolved. That the report be adopted and 

 Northern Spy and Gravenstein be added to 

 the list of apples recommended out of which 

 a selection may be made. 



Senator Ferguson, Marshfield ; John 

 Robertson, Inkerman ; and D. A. Sharp, 

 Summerside, were appointed packers for the 

 Association. All matters in regard to the 

 shipment are to be left in their hands. 



We wish our Cousins good success in 

 their efforts to export high grade apples, 

 and would suggest that for fancy soft 

 apples such as Alexanders, it would be 

 better to adopt the package used by the 

 Ontario shippers, which has been 

 figured in Professor Robertson's report. 



