NOVA SCOTIA AS AN APPLE GROWING PROVINCE* 



RALPH S. EATON, KENTX'ILLE, N. S. 



OX account of the general large crop value of $i,ooo or $2,000 to $10,000. 



throughout all apple growing coun- It has changed dozens of farms from a value 



tries and especially in England, the prices of $2,000 or $3,000 to $15,000 and $20,000 



for fruit shipped before December i, 1904, and a number to $25,000 and $30,000. It 



were very low, the lowest since 1896. Many has advertised the province more than any 



fruit men would have been better off had one of its products. In visiting, a few years 



they left their Gravensteins on the trees, ago, a number of horticultural societies and 



IJlenheims were particularly clean and their fruit men of the United States, I was met 



seemingly spot proof skin advanced them almost invariably with the question, " Are 



many points in their position among the most you from the great fruit district of Nova 



desirable varieties. The King, too, though wScotia ?'' It is probable that more people 



always popular, strengthened its place on in the world know of Nova Scotia from its 



the markets last year. * fruit than from any other source. 



Comparisons between Nova Scotia fruit The average yield of apples in Nova 

 growers and others are usually interesting. Scotia for the last 10 years has been about 

 Knowing that the great bulk of our apples 300,000 barrels. The bearing orchards 25 

 are grown in a little valley between Wind- years of age and upwards well cared for 

 sor and Annapolis it is natural that we have been producing during this time about 

 should be curious to see how otir output 100 barrels per acre. All orchards are not 

 compares with the big province of Ontario well cared for and perhaps 50 barrels per 

 and some apple states of the Republic. Our acre would be a fairer average estimate, 

 fruit business occupies a conspicuous place This would show the crops to have come 

 an.d may be regarded with pride. The practically from 7,000 acres or 1 1 square 

 value of its exports exceeds the value of the miles, or a square of about three and a quar- 

 combined export of all our other farm pro- ter miles. Does this not seem almost in- 

 ducts. ■ credible? Yet this small square properly 



From carefully prepared statistics of the cared for will produce 700,000 barrels 



International Apple Shippers' Association annually. 



the following estimate is made of the crop The area of Nova Scotia is 21,731 square 



for 1903. a year of good average crops for miles, about 2,000 times the area producing 



Ontario and the States mentioned : our apples. Only a very limited propor- 



Barreis tion of this area is not suited for this fruit. 



Nova Scotia '^?5'?^!? This has been proved in many wavs. The 



Ontario 547,000 . . ^ . , ' , 



Maine 500 000 county exhibits at the Provincial Fair sub- 

 Massachusetts ]^~^?,?, stantiate this. Hants and Pictou are mag- 



Pennsylvaiiia 1 / .S,000 . . ^ . , , , 



New York .3, 184,000 nmcent counties for fruit and each could be 



^^'° 240,000 growing as well as not, without the slightest 



Fruit growing has increased the value of interference with the other crops, a million 



farms in fruit districts from two to five barrels of apples annually. Beautiful apples 



times the value of farms of equal area in have been grown in the most northerly 



other parts of Nova Scotia. It has changed points of Cape Breton and southerly parts 



many acres of our country from a value of of Shelburne, Lunenburg, Yarmouth, Dig- 



$20 or $30 to the selling value of $1,000. It by, Halifax, Antigonish and Victoria, 



has changed hundreds of farms from a Many growers in these districts consider 



' An address delivered at the last annual conven'ion of the Nova Scotia Fruit Clrowers' Associatibn, of which Mr. Eaton is president. 



