PROMISING METHOD OF CO-OPERATION 



ROBERT THOMPSON, PRES. ST. CATHARINES COLD STORAGE AND FORWARDING CO. 



A NUMBER of the fruit growers in the 

 vicinity of St. Catharines have been 

 endeavoring to improve the present system 

 of shipping fruit. A committee was ap- 

 pointed last winter to work out a system that 

 all would have faith in, and which would 

 enable us to work harmoniously together. 

 We have agreed to adopt the following plan 

 for the coming season : 



The charter of the St. Catharines Cold 

 Storage and Forwarding Company, to which 

 we belong, allows us to buy and sell fruit 

 and produce, as well as store and ship. Our 

 plant has cost us $8,000, on which there is 

 a debt of about $2,000. We had a surplus 

 over running expenses the past season, after 

 paying interest charges, of over $500, so that 

 our organization is in good shape except that 

 there is not enough capital subscribed. 



In the past, members received no more 

 benefits than outsiders. In the future this 

 wni be changed. We propose that a mem- 

 ber to receive the full benefit must hold five 

 shares worth $50. A member holding three 

 shares, or $30, will receive half benefit. 



WILL BUY SUPPLIES WHOLESALE- 



The company will purchase supplies 

 wholesale, such as baskets, barrels, apple 

 boxes, bluestone, sulphur, and anything that 

 is wanted in large quantities, as well as 

 spray pumps and fertilizers. Members will 

 be supplied at cost, outsiders at an advance. 



Fruit will be sold whenever practical. As 



many growers as possible will be urged to 

 fill orders. The company will purchase, if 

 necessary, to fill orders. Members' fruit 

 will always be given the preference. Out- 

 siders will be charged a percentage for sell- 

 ing their fruit. 



A system of inspection of members' fruit 

 by a disinterested party, will be established. 

 In all packages that pass as high grade an 

 attractive company label will be placed. 

 These will state the packages are guaranteed 

 by the company, and requests purchasers to 

 communicate direct with the company for 

 further supplies of this same brand, and* to 

 write giving suggestions as to any improve- 

 ments that can be made in the package or 

 method of packing. All such packages will 

 bear the packer's or grower's name. 



POINTS THAT WILL BE WATCHED. 



Shipments will be confined to as few as 

 possible of the leading commission houses in 

 the larger cities when fruit is sent on con- 

 signments. An effort will be made to ship 

 as far as practical by freight. In the apple 

 season a competent man will be engaged and 

 placed in charge of packers to pack the fruit 

 of members. 



These are a few of the methods we be- 

 lieve will help the growers of the district. 

 Already we have purchased three carloads 

 (500,000) berry boxes and crates, and thir- 

 teen spray pumps, and we are negotiating 

 f(i>r a ton of bluestone. 



Planting: Strawberries. — I prefer to 

 set strawberry plants in rows 4 feet wide,. as 

 they are more easily cultivated. Experience 

 has shown that with a row 18 or 20 inches 

 wide the pickers do not have any too much 

 room in which to work in the middles. It 

 is not necessary to set plants 12 to 18 inches 

 in the row, as advised by many people who 



sell them. They should be set so that the 

 crown is just above the level of the ground. 

 If set too deep tne dirt will smother the 

 crown ; if too shallow, the sunshine and wind 

 will dry the roots, and when the hot days of 

 July and /august come the plants die or fail 

 to grow properly.— -(Charles H. Snow, 

 Cummings Bridge, Ont. 



