404 The Canadian Horticulturist 



As will be seen in our apple reports, the prospect for first class winter stock 

 is brightening ; indeed, has been good all along. It would appear that Europe 

 could use our whole apple crop, if it were sent forward gradually, and not too 

 rapidly. But our whole crop is not going forward. Much of it has already 

 blown off and can only be sold as windfalls to evaporating factories at home ; 

 much is wasting in the orchards for want of hands to gather, or because the 

 owner thinks the value so little, he will not bother with them. 



Owing to these circumstances we are continuing to forward our apples direct 

 to a British salesman, believing that there is more money in so doing than in sell 

 ing at home at 50 cents a barrel. So far (October 22) we have received returns 

 for about 200 barrels partly fall apples, and the average net price has been from 

 $1.00 to $1.50 per barrel. 



On October 20, a letter was received from the agent of the Canadian Gov- 

 ernment, who says : — 



" Apples frjiri Montreal have been selling at from ten shillings to twelve shillings a 

 barrel at public auction. The English crop has been a total failure, and, in addition, 

 recent storms have simply ruined the orchards. During the early part of this month the 

 English crop must all be put on the market, as it will not keep, and later on prices Mill be 

 better. There is just one thing to be remembered, that the demand is limited, and any 

 extravagant shipmt^nts to load up the market will certainly be attended with loss On no 

 account must rubbish be sent, but the very best picked fruit. " 



About the same time we received from Montreal apple buyers, circulars 

 such as the following : — 



Montreal, October 17th, 1896. 



Afple.s. — The receipts have been very large, our own receipts being close to 1000 

 barrels per day. Yet, by push we have been enabled to sell most of these as they arrived. 

 Prices have been good compared to other markets. The utter collapse of the English 

 market and the great losses sustained by shippers there, has shut cfl' all orders from the 

 other side. Prices here rule steady. Best fancy winter apples, .$1.40 to $1.75 Fair to 

 good, $1.10 to $1.30. Culls, 80c. to $1.00 per bariel. Good Spies, Greenings, Baldwins 

 and Kings sell best. 



We can use all the apples sent us. and you will get a great deal more money in return 

 for your fruit from here than anywhere else. 



Montreal, October 14th, 1896. 



Dear Sir. — We have several letters about the prospect of apples. It seems worse 

 than when we issued our circular on September 5th. Demand here is very slow at $1.00 

 to $1 25 for medium to fine winter fruits ; good red Snow apples, $1 25. The British 

 markets have been in a terrible stale for the past two weeks, scarcely making freight on 

 several lots, while good stock would scarcely pay for barrels. They claim this is owing 

 to so much soft, p or stock being sent forward, which no doubt has had a lot to do with 

 it ; still we thought that, at moderate prices, they could have used even larger quantities 

 than have gone forward. In this we have been disappointed ; perhaps the lower prices 

 will cause larger consumption now and results may be better, and there should be better 

 demand here from ihis forward. 



We advise shippers to ship only best fruit ; buyers are very much more pitrticular in 

 a full market than when stock is scarce, even though they are paying next to nothing for 

 it. We are situated to handle apples to the very best advantage ; our representative is 

 in Britain now, and if our friends leave their goods to our judgment, we shall do the best 

 we can. We have sold all we could here lately, for we feared shipment across would make 

 less money. Any shipper that may prefer to sell here, or to be shipped to Britain, give 

 your oi-ders and they will be carried out to the letter ; but we thirrk you had better leave 

 it to us, for we have prices, quantities going forward, and all particulars every day. 



