MARKETING SMALL FRUIT 



JT is a season such as we have this year 

 which tests the grower of small fruits. 

 Many growers find little trouble in so car- 

 ing for their bushes and cultivating their 

 land that a fair crop results each year if the 

 weather conditions are not too unfavorable. 

 As a rule it is not difficult to find a ready 

 market if the crop is not very heavy. But 

 when a bumper crop comes the business 

 ability of the grower is put to the test and 

 that grower who is the shrewdest and pays 

 the most attention to supply and demand on 

 the different markets usually obtains great- 

 est returns for his labors. 



An attempt has been made by The Horti- 

 culturist to find out how some of the lead- 

 ing growers in the Niagara district sell 

 their crops and from what markets the 

 greatest profits are obtained. 



" This year," said Mr. J. A. Pettit, of 

 Grimsby, " there was good money in the 

 home market for strawberries. I always 

 sell my fruit to local buyers unless it is evi- 

 dent they are not paying enough. I also 

 ship some. The Ottawa market suits me 

 best, because it is handy to ship by Domin- 

 ion express from here. I seldom sell to 

 the canners and never make a contract with 

 them. This year the canners have paid 

 $1.32 per crate, but when they contract for 

 many crates from certain growers they 

 do not always get the best berries as the 

 growers can make more money out of the 

 best on the local market or perhaps by ship- 

 ping them." 



CANNERS PAY BEST. 



" Selling berries to the canners," said Mr. 

 J. W. S. Nelles, of Grimsby, " pays best all 

 through. ]\Iany growers claim otherwise. 



but ' a bird in the hand is worth two in 

 the bush.' In many cases if they ship to a 

 distant market they are not sure what price 

 they may get. Many buyers here have 

 bought whole patches to ship. It will not 

 be long until the buying will all be done at 

 the growing point." 



" For the Marlboro raspberry," said Mr. 

 W. H. Spera, of Bartonville, " I find best 

 money in selling on the Hamilton market. 

 It comes in early and demands a high price. 

 Sometimes I ship to Ottawa or Montreal if 

 I find localities better located for supplying 

 those cities have not a sufficient crop. As 

 a rule, however, the home market pays best. 

 There is more work, however, about sup- 

 plying the home market, as when the berries 

 are shipped all that is necessary is safe de- 

 livery to the train. The Cuthbert is firmer 

 and a better canner and greater returns are 

 obtained by selling it to the canners, as this 

 variety comes in after the earlier varieties 

 have lowered the price on the open markets. 



MONEY IN CURRANTS. 



" My land," continued Mr. Spera, " is 

 specially suited to growing currants. I 

 usually sell the red currants in Hamilton at 

 about $1.75 per crate, but if the demand is 

 not good there I look for other markets. I 

 have shipped direct to Buffalo, and after 

 paying freight and a duty of one cent per 

 box, besides commission merchant's fees, 

 have cleared over $1.75 per crate. Black 

 currants generally bring 90 cents to $1 per 

 1 1 -quart basket. For me the canning fac- 

 tory in Hamilton pays best because I have 

 a big lot to sell. On the local markets a 

 higher price might be obtained, but only 10 

 to 12 baskets could be disposed of at a time." 



A great deal of fertilizer can be profitably 

 used on strawberry plants if applied at pro- 

 per intervals, as follows : In the early spring 

 before planting, again late in the summer or 

 early fall around the plants, and again in 

 the winter or very early spring directly over 

 them. 



What interests me most in The Horticul- 

 turist is the names of the different kinds of 

 fruit that do well in latitudes similar to 

 Owen Sound. These articles are a far bet- 

 ter guide in selecting fruit trees or plants 

 than the fruit agent with his picture book. 

 — (John Thomson, Owen Sound, Ont. 



304 



