APPLE BARRELS WILL PROBABLY BE PLENTIFUL 



^1 "^HERE is not likely to be a shortage of 

 X apple barrels this fall. Coopers 

 have apparently been able to make better ar- 

 rangements than they did last year and to 

 lay in larger supplies. In a number of sec- 

 tions the apple crop will not be as heavy as 

 it was last year, which will also have an 

 effect on the supply of barrels. 



While it is not likely the exorbitant prices 

 will be asked this season that were in many 

 instances late last fall, the general price will 

 probably be fully as high if not a little 

 higher. This is indicated by reports that 

 have been received by The Horticulturist 

 from many sections of the province. 



The Sutherland, Innes Co., of Chatham, 

 the largest dealers in cooperage stock in the 

 province, believe that, the coopers will be 

 able to supply the demand for apple barrels 

 this fall in good shape, as they have secured 

 their stock early, and in most cases bought 

 a very high grade. 



" It seems to be the general opinion of 

 the apple shippers," writes Mr. Fleming, 

 the secretary-treasurer of the company, 

 " that a really first-class barrel is required, 

 consequently the coopers are buying mill 

 run and number one staves almost entirely, 

 instead of number twos, as in former years, 

 the latter having been used almost exclu- 

 sively up to the last year or two. We do 

 not expect that the price of apple barrels 

 will be as high as last year, in fact, we know 

 of contracts which have already been taken 

 at 45 and 50 cents for apple barrels, which 

 is very reasonable, considering the class of 

 barrel which is being put up.. We believe 

 that the average price for apple barrels this 

 year will be about 50 cents in Canada and 

 about the same in the United States." 

 AVERAGE PRICE 45 CENTS. 



A large dealer in the vicinity of Trenton, 

 Mr. W. H. Matthews, reports as follows: 

 " I do not think the shortage of barrels will 

 be as great this year as last. I cut my own 

 stock, and will have twice as much as last 



season, so will be prepared to furnish all the 

 barrels that may be required in this section. 

 The price will be 45 to 50 cents each, but 45 

 cents will probably be the ruling figure." 



WHAT THE GROWERS SAY. 



Many growers have already ordered their 

 supplies. Among the growers heard from 

 are the following: 



I have ordered 800 barrels for my stock 

 this year, paying about 45 cents each for 

 them. I have never used boxes, but believe 

 they would be more satisfactory and 

 cheaper. — (W .H. Walter, Brighton, Ont. 



I will pack all my apples in 30-inch bar- 

 rels and have secured my supply for the 

 coming season. The cost for barrels will 

 likely run over 40 cents each, as cooperage 

 stock is going to be scarce, judging by the 

 price the larger mills are quoting. The 

 cost will be 2>7 cents per barrel, not count- 

 ing the cost of making. — (Wm. Keideman, 

 Shakespeare, Ont. 



I prefer barrels, as heretofore they have 

 been less expensive than boxes, easier to 

 handle in gathering the fruit, and much 

 easier to pack. I fear packing material is - 

 going to be very expensive. — (R. L. Scott, 1 

 Port Hope, Ont. 



ARE COSTING MORE. 



Barrels are costing 10 cents each more 

 this year than they were at this time last . 

 year. I cannot say whether the demand 

 for barrels is likely to exceed the supply or 

 not. There is plenty of stock to be had, 

 but I understand the manufacturers have 

 not been able to get their stock out fast 

 on account of so much wet weather. — (W. 

 M, Ellis, Whitby, Ont. 



I have placed an order for about 6,000 

 barrels at 40 cents each, delivered in the or- 

 chard. Last season the price per barrel 

 ranged from 35 cents to 70 cents. I do not 

 anticipate the same difficulty securing bar- 

 rels this season as last. — (W^. J. Bragg, 

 Bowmanville, Ont. 



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