THE FRUIT TRADE WITH THE WEST 



THE MACPHERSON FRUIT CO., WINNIPEG. 



The bulk of our apples commence arriving 

 in Winnipeg from the south the latter part of 

 July and continue coming forward until the lat- 

 ter part of August. The Ontario crop in sea- 

 son, when it has been plentiful, has always dis- 

 placed them at this date. 



British Columbia has sent, late in the season 

 of different years, one or two cars of apples 

 which have been much admired for their fine 

 appearance but are generally regarded as lacic- 

 ing in flavor. A few also have been sent from 

 Oregon an- Washington Territory, but the 

 same remarks apply to these as to the ship- 

 ments from British Columbia. From all these 

 points the apples are sent in boxes. 



Pears, peaches, plums and grapes nearly all 

 come from California. Oregon and Washing- 

 ton Territory also contribute some of these. 

 Ontario, with the exception of grapes, sends 

 such a small proportion it does not seriously 

 affect the shipments from the other. 



THERE HAVE BEEN HEAVY LOSSES, 



Shipments of Ontario fruit, always excepting 

 grapes and apples, have succeeded so badly that 

 we do not like to write or ever to think about 

 them. The long list of heavy losses from badly 

 packed fruit, put up without care or honesty 

 and sent forward without discrimination cr 



knowledge of what is required on long distance 

 shipments, is so great that it is exasperating to 

 merely contemplate them. 



All fruit is in demand that can be put on this 

 market in good order and at fair prices. The 

 best package to use is a subject that requires 

 much study and one that cannot be answered 

 within the space of an ordinary letter. Our 

 inspector here has had a long experience iboth 

 here ana in Ontario and will doubtless be able 

 to give intending shippers some valuable infor- 

 mation along that line. 



Manitoba and the Northwest Territories are 

 for apples, and ought to be for small fruits, the 

 best customer Ontario has. Before this can 

 taKe place in small fruits there must be an en- 

 tire and tremendous change in Ontario in the 

 methods of packing and transportation. On- 

 tario peaches or strawberries are not likely to 

 ever be a pronounced success on this market. 

 The same remarrk applies to plums. 



For apples, grapes and pears it remains with 

 the Ontario men to either hold this market or 

 lose it just in proportion as they show them- 

 selves intelligent and enterprising in adopting 

 up-to-date methods and when organization be- 

 comes powerful enough to compel concessions 

 for transportation facilities that will ensure the 

 rapid transit and proper handling of goods. 



OBSTACLES TO SUCCESS IN FRUIT GROWING 



The codling moth, apple scab and caterpillars 

 are our most serious obstacles, together with 

 the way in which commission men buy and han- 

 dle our fruit. In some cases the fruit is not fit 

 for home market, much less for exporting. — 

 (Daniel Durham, Lambton Co., Ont. 



The tent caterpillar has appeared earlier than 

 usual this season, and is most in evidence at 

 this time. Insect pests are our chief hindran- 

 ces to growing fruit successfully, together with 

 the expense of handling the fruit properly. 

 Help is so scarce that the fruit cannot be han- 

 dled in time to prevent spoiling. As a rule the 

 farmer does not spray, and the insects get part 

 of the crop. — (Charles J. S. Natel, Huron Co., 

 Ont. 



The Fruit Marks Act is the most serious ob- 

 stacle to successful fruit growing in our locality. 

 — (Theo. Murray, Bruce Co., Ont. 



In this district, as in all others, the question 

 of farm labor is the most serious drawback. — 

 (J. W. Munro, Welland Co., Ont. 



Excessive freight rates are a serious obstacle 

 to our fruit raising. We pay as high as 7 to 9 

 cents per basket to send them to London. — 

 (Fred. Howell, Brant Co., Ont. 



People in my vicinity have not had much ex- 

 perience in growing fruit, and lack of proper 

 knowledge in taking care of trees and selecting 

 the proper kinds has been a great drawback. A 

 great many poor quality trees have been bought 

 find (brought into the section by agents, all of 



which has been a hindrance. — (J. W. Harum, 

 Hastings Co., Ont. 



Fruit growers should be protected by law- 

 from nurserymen selling trees untrue to name. 

 This difficulty and San Jose scale are our two 

 greatest difficulties. — (H. iS. and C. Fisher, Lin- 

 coln Co., Ont. 



The most serious drawback to successful 

 growing of fruit in our section is the lack of at- 

 tion by many fruit growers. Apples are our 

 main crop grown for export. Packages are too 

 dear. It is a serious hindrance when the pack- 

 age costs nearly as much as the apples are 

 worth. — (W. J. Bragg, Durham Co., Ont. 



Caterpillars are not so bad this year as the 

 past two years, but there is a fly or insect 

 which is very bad, stinging the apples and thus 

 doing a lot of harm. We have no market to 

 encourage fruit growers to raise fruit to sell. — 

 (Chas. Brethour, Ontario Co., Ont. 



A great drawback to planting good orchards 

 of apples is to get good stock to plant, as nur- 

 serymen supply you with anything but the kind 

 you order. They give you mostly varieties that 

 bear in the fall and which are worthless on the 

 market. — (Thos. O'Brien, Durham Co., Ont. 



Farmers think it will not pay to spray. They 

 have been taken in by men going around spray- 

 ing and have had no results. The man who 

 goes around spraying looks out for his own 

 pocket. — (A. H. Crosby, York Co., Ont. 



The want of a better market is a great obsta- 



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