COMMERCIAL FRUIT GROWING. 



217 



Marketing Vegetables 



4 . I F vegetable growers fully realized the 

 1 difference in profit between market- 

 ing their vegetables in a neat and attractive 

 manner as compared with careless methods, 

 more attention would be paid by them to the 

 appearance of their produce. This differ- 

 ence," said Mr. Dawson, the well-known 

 commission merchant of Toronto, to the 

 Horticulturist a few days ago, " often means 

 the difference between profit and loss on the 

 goods. 



" When I have some nicely cleaned and 

 neatly done up vegetables, and some that 

 have been marketed in a dirty condition and 

 careless manner, the former are nearly al- 

 ways sold before the latter are even looked 

 at, and generally bring a better price, al- 

 though they may not be any better in quality. 



" Radishes shouid be marketed in small 

 packages, as they are easier to sell. When 

 we have to divide the fruit up into small 

 packages before selling them injury often 

 results. Rhubarb can be sold in almost any 

 kind of package as long as it is not cumber- 

 some. 



" As regards the neatness of package, one 

 man will often sell 20 dozen radishes for 5c. 

 a dozen more than another man can get for 

 his radishes, which are not in as neat a con- 

 dition. Early onions, as soon as they get 

 big enough, will be in demand this year, as 

 old onions are well cleaned out." 



Prospects for the Currant Crop 



L. W. 



^"P^ HE currant has not been popular of 



1 late with commercial fruit growers, 

 because of the low prices received ; yet why 

 such prices should continue is hard to un- 

 derstand when the many uses to which this 

 fruit may be put are realized and its excel- 

 lent influence upon the health considered. 

 What is more agreeable in summer than the 

 mild acid of a currant pie, or what greater 



delicacy is there than the rich delicious jelly 

 made from this fruit? 



At one time no fruit was more profitable, 

 and immense plantations were set, resulting 

 in over-production arid a rapid decline in 

 prices. Now that so many have become dis- 

 couraged with currant culture and have torn 

 out their plantations a decided advance in 

 price may be expected. 



Opening For Our Fruit. — Mr. A. Cabaret. 3 

 Rue Aubroit. Paris. France, writes the Fruit 

 Division, Ottawa, that "In years like 1903, when 

 French fruits were very scarce, the amount of 

 business done between France and California 

 was very large. This might have been done as 

 well with -^anada, the sympathy being greater 

 between the countries." 



Wants to Buy Apples. — An English wholesale 

 fruit dealer writes the Fruit Division, Ottawa, 

 that he is desirous of importing Canadian apples 

 next fall, and asks to be put in communication 

 with reliable shippers who would make consign- 

 ments against pre-arranged advances. He 

 would prefer to do business only with those who 

 export their selected fruit in layer boxes. His 

 address and further information may be had on 

 application to Mr. W. A. MacKinnon, chief of 

 Fruit Division. 



I do not consider the raspberry crop a paying 

 one for the average farmer. The bushes re- 

 quire many hands at a time when much help is 

 needed elsewhere on the farm. — (D. Bettschen, 

 Violet Hill, Ont. 



There is no doubt in my mind that money is 

 to Ibe maue in fruit, provided we do four things, 

 and ao-them right : Spray, prune, feed and culti- 

 vate. — (W. O. Burgess, Queenston, Ont. 



The Fruit Division, Ottawa, received about 

 the middle of April from Mr. C. L. Stephens, of 

 Orillia, a basket of very fine Salome apples. 

 "These had been stored in a cellar all winter, but 

 were in perfect condition, although the Salome 

 is generally considered an early winter apple. 



I think there can be no question as to the 

 pront in growing apples if the orchard is pro- 

 perly looked after. On our farm there are a 

 few Mackintosh Reds, planted 7 years ago this 

 spring, that gave us over 2 barrels to the tree 

 last fall. We have good local markets and are 

 not far from --cawa. Should this market fail, 

 I fancy it will be some time before the British 

 market will be glutted with the right quality of 

 apples. — (G. H. Hutton, Easton's Corners, Ont. 



I have taken the Horticulturist 15 years and 

 woui^ not like to be without it. — (Walter M. 

 Turnbull, Gait, Ont. 



