300 



THE CANADIAN H0RTICULTURIS7 



we have had as many as 34 agencies. About 

 one-third of the cities report daily the price 

 which is being paid and their reports are 

 placed in the hands of the growers." 



" Our members," said Mr. Pettit, " are 

 nearly all large shippers. Most of the 

 shareholders in Essex county live near 

 Leamington, Kingsville or Walkerville. All 

 kinds of fruit are handled, starting with 

 early berries. Three per cent, covers the 

 cost of the secretary's expenses, office rent, 

 etc. The growers are sure of receiving the 



money for their sales as the company guar- 

 antees the price. 



" We ship for about 300 growers in the 

 different counties. Our business has run 

 from $75,000 to $100,000 per year. While 

 the company is not making money, its finan- 

 cial basis is better than for 15 years." 



Among the leading directors of the com- 

 pany are Mr. Murray Pettit, of Winona, 

 president, and Messrs. A. H. Pettit, of 

 Grimsby ; Robt. Thompson, W. H. Bunting 

 and Andrew Haines, of St. Catharines. 



Likes a Shallow Box 



W. v. HOPKINS. r.URLTXGTON. ONT. 



FOR 15 years I have been shipping 

 apples in boxes 12 inches wide and 

 nine inches deep. I have three grades, 

 large and small sound fruit and a number 

 two. I am compelled to have the packing 

 done by women. It is difficult to see well 

 and place apples properly in this box, which 

 is only nine inches deep, and for this reason 

 it is a mistake to have the box deeper. 



Twelve inches is rather narrow for two 

 reasons. The larger the surface or face 

 the better the appearance, and in turn the 

 higher the price. A flat box piles better 

 in the storeroom or in a car, and carries 

 better on a wagon. 



I always press so as to have a bulge in 

 the centre of the top and bottom and put a 

 cleat on each end to protect this. The 

 boxes should not be piled crosswise, as then 

 the weight comes on the bulged part of the 

 box and the fruit is bruised. 



A uniform package is needed, but I hope 

 the new box adopted by Parliament will 

 prove more practical than the standard bas- 

 ket, which is too large for cherries, cur- 

 rants and plums. It is necessary that time 

 be given to dispose of the old stock of boxes 

 before the new law comes in force. 



Fruit for Huron County 



PROF. H. L. HUTT, O. A. C, GUELPH. 



A Huron county correspondent asks for the 

 names of five of the best plums, three cherries 

 and three grapes for his district ; also for sug- 

 gestions as to what are the most rapid growing 

 trees for shade to plant near the dwelling. 



I would recommend the following five 

 varieties of plums as most likely to give 

 satisfaction: Burbank, Bradshaw, Imperial 

 Gage, Lombard and Reine Claude. These 

 are given in their order of ripening and 

 cover the season fairly well. In cherries 

 I would recommend Montmorency, Early 

 Richmond, and Windsor. The following 

 varieties of grapes are the best representa- 

 tives of the three colors, red, white, and 

 black : Lindley, Niagara, and Worden. 



The shade trees which make the most 

 rapid growth when young are not always 

 the most satisfactory when old, or do not 

 usually live as long as many of the slower 

 growing trees. The Ash Leaf maple, or 

 as it is sometimes called, the Box Elder, or 

 Nagundo, is one of the most rapid growing 

 shade trees, but it is not nearly so satisfac- 

 tory after 20 or 25 years as the maple or 

 elm. The soft maple is another rapid 

 grower, and either of these may be planted 

 for immediate effect, but I prefer to plant 

 white elm or hard maple if soil is suitable, 

 and wait a little longer for results. 



