33^ The Canadian Horticulturist. 



in a favorable time, the most of them being now ready for harvesting (Aug. lo), 

 when the market is open for a better variety than the Alexander. Its chief fault 

 is its tender skin, which is so susceptible to bruises. The prices for all early 

 varieties are very low this year, because they come in competition with a better 

 class of peaches from the West and South. Eight quart baskets are now selling 

 in Toronto (Aug. loth) as low as 20 cents each ; but when our fine Crawfords 

 are ready, those from the South will be out of the market. 



Among our recent visitors was Senator Maclnnes of Hamilton and Mr. G. 

 R. Parkin, of Harwich, Essex Co., Eng., representing T/ie London Times. After 

 visiting the Maplehurst orchards they expressed themselves highly pleased with 

 what they saw, as representing the fruit industry of Canada, which Mr. Parkin 

 was desirous of writing up for English readers The great need, Mr. Parkin said, 

 in order to make our apple export trade a success was improved packages for extra 

 grade fruit, and an Inspector's brand in order to give confidence to the English 

 buyer. Mr. Parkin had just returned from Australia, where he found extra 

 grades of apples for the British market were packed in bushel boxes, each sam- 

 ple wrapped in tissue paper, and this kind of stock commanded a steady high 

 price in l^ondon market. We explained to him how far our Association had 

 succeeded in securing legislation on this subject, which provided for the grades 

 and the brands, but lacked any grant of money, which was absolutely necessary 

 in order to make the Act practicable, for no man would act as inspector without 

 some assurance of support. Senator Maclnnes thought that if this matter were 

 written out in proper form, explaining just what was required, and placed in the 

 proper hands at Ottawa, no doubt fruit growers would get what was required to 

 make the apple export trade of Canada a success. 



The Canadian Fruit Buyers' and Exporters' Association recently 

 held a meeting in Toronto at which the following resolutions were passed : 



1. "Resolved, that the practice which has existed in the past, and which has 

 become so general, of engaging assistants in buying and packing on commission 

 should be discontinued, and in future all assistants and help shall be paid by 

 salary, by the day, week, month or season, as can best be arranged, and any 

 member, of the Association found violating the same in the future shall be 

 subject to the censure of the Association." 



2. " Resolved, that we, as members of this Association, pledge ourselves 

 not to purchase apples on the plan known as * so much and the rise,' or to give 

 what is called a bonus, and to use, so far as it lies in our power, the form of con- 

 tract adopted by the Association." 



3. *' Resolved, that the members of this Association faithfully agree not to 

 accept any * shipper's count ' or ' more or less ' bill of lading when shipping 

 apples, but to insist on clean bills of lading." 



A standard of quality was also adopted, which is the same as that described 

 in our 24th Annual Report, p. 66, viz.. Grade No. i shall consist of well-grown 

 samples of varieties named, somewhat uniform in size, well shaped, of normal 

 color, free from scab, worm-holes, curculio knots, etc. 



