THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



Fig. 1596. — Hon. G. W. Howlan. Governor 

 P. E. I., Patron F. G. A. 



sonal supervision of Hon. Senator Fer- 

 guson, who went to Nova Scotia to 

 become acquainted with apple packing, 

 and Messrs. Robertson and Sharp, two 

 of our largest orchardists, were first 

 selected. A steamship more or less 

 suitable to the carriage of perishable 

 fruit, called the Lake Winnipeg, was 

 subsidized by the local Government and 

 came direct to Charlottetown for the 

 fruit consignment and the large cheese, 

 butter and cattle cargo awaiting her. 

 The apple shipment was made up of 

 King, Spy, Golden Russet, Ribston, 

 Baldwin, Alexander, Wealthy, Wolf 

 River, Bethel, St. Lawrence, Fameuse, 

 and Nonpareil. It will be seen at a 

 glance that we were tyros in apple ship- 

 ping business, as no regard was had for 

 season, the whole range of fall and win- 

 ter varieties being sent on at once. 

 Well, notwithstanding this and many 



other disadvantages, which neces- 

 sarily menace a trial shipment, our 

 fruit did wonders, — was praised 

 most lavishly by the British dealers, 

 and orders for unlimited quantities 

 forwarded to us. Especially were 

 we surprised at the prices our 

 Alexanders fetched, netting us $3.05 

 after paying the exorbitant charge 

 of 76 cents per bbl. here and the 

 expenses on the other side. We 

 can grow this apple in Prince 

 Edward Island as easily as we can 

 grow turnips, and if it will maintain 

 anything like that price on the 

 Home market, can make big money 

 raising it. The other varieties also 

 brought, one with the other, encour- 

 aging prices. This shipment on 

 the part of the F. G. A. opened up 

 the trade to Island apple raisers 

 and impaired by only a very few 

 dollars the Society's grant. It was 

 followed by further consignments 

 on private account on the succeed- 

 ing steamers with a result that the whole 

 Province is enthusiastic over the new 

 industry which has sprung up as if by 

 magic on its fertile shores. 



Mr. Commissioner Avise made report 

 of his investigations in London and 

 Liverpool at the Annual meeting. He 

 found a solid demand for P. E. I. fruit, 

 which to be maintained and improved 

 required better packing and shipping 

 facilities and the continuance of honest 

 methods ; he said some of the trash 

 branded " Canadian Apples " he was 

 heartily ashamed of. 



To secure the success of the Canadian 

 apple trade the P. E. I. F. G. A. is co- 

 operating with the Ontario F. G. A. in 

 asking the federal government to ap- 

 point inspectors and exact proper ship- 

 ping facilities for fruit at the ports of 

 departure. The writer had the great 

 pleasure of moving a resolution at 

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