THE SHIPMENT OF APPLES 



fci \ ^ / HY should fruit growers have to 

 V V ship even their peaches by ex- 

 press," asked Mr. E. D. Smith at a fruit 

 growers' meeting held at Beamsville. 

 Fruit sent by freight should reach points 

 within lOO miles the next day. There is 

 needless delay at Toronto for fruit shipped 

 from the Niagara district. The Railway 

 Commission has promised consideration, 

 but 'he questioned if much will be done, un- 

 less by cooperation fruit growers bring pres- 

 sure to bear on the commission. They 

 spend thousands of dollars for fruit carriage 

 and the railway companies will not even fur- 

 nish proper cars. The cars on which the 

 apples are shipped get too hot. Prof. Rob- 

 ertson tested the cars and found a tempera- 

 ture of 85 degrees. It was said the apples 

 spoil on shipboard, but more damage is 

 done on the cars. 



Apples remain in barrels in the orchard 

 for some time without spoiling, but they 

 soon spoil on board s'hip because there is not 

 proper ventilation. Apples sent by venti- 

 lated ships are probably worth one dollar 

 more per barrel. There s'hould be an act 

 of parliament to compel ventilation, as is 

 done in the case of cattle ships. Thermo- 

 graphs should be provided. Proper venti- 

 lation would save $1,000,000 a year to the 

 apple growers of Ontario. 



Fruit growers must raise a good 

 article. If half the fruit was dumped 

 out growers would get more money for 

 the other half. The trees must have 



rich ground and the fruit should be 

 thinned out. Peach trees could be thinned 

 for two cents a tree. Mr. Smith said he 

 had thinned some trees from 12 baskets to 

 five and it paid, as he secured larger and 

 better fruit. 



In regard to the size of apple barrels there 

 are two sides to the question of uniformity. 

 Ontario has a reputation for large barrels, 

 and there are no extra charges for freight, 

 handling, etc., in which way more than 

 enough is realized to pay for the extra 16 

 quarts of apples. Baskets are required by 

 law to be uniform in size, but the act is not 

 carried out. Cooperation is needed among 

 the fruit growers to remedy these defects. 



After hearing Mr. E. D. Smith speak -f 

 the necessity for cooperation in shipping 

 fruit, ]\Ir. A. N. Brown, of the State of 

 Delaware, expressed surprise that the Nia- 

 gara shippers have no ventilated cars or 

 fruit trains. The growers in the States, he 

 said, have been through like experiences 

 and had to deal with the Pennsylvania rail- 

 way monopoly. He advised Ontario grow- 

 ers not to go to the Railway Commission 

 but to appeal direct to the railway com- 

 panies. They in Delaware had, after a 

 fight over the question of routing which 

 threatened to kill their industry, secured a 

 market train which carried their fruit at the 

 rate of 35 miles an hour. The Niagara 

 shippers should have such a train to To- 

 ronto. The rate on such a train was high, 

 but not nearly so high as by express. 



New Seedling Pear. — A splendid variety 

 of pear is being grown by Mr. E. C. Beman, 

 of Newcastle, samples of which were shown 

 at the last Provincial Fruit, Flower and 

 Honey Show in Toronto. It ripens during 

 the last of October or early in November. 

 These trees have been growing in Mr. Be- 



man's orchard for 12 or 13 years, and he 

 has some that are top grafted. It bids fair 

 to be a very productive variety, and the fruit 

 is of large size. The quality is not quite 

 as good as the Sheldon, but is similar. The 

 fruit is juicy and delicious, and it promises 

 to. become popular. 



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