THE NOVA SCOTIA FRUIT GROWERS. 



Apples, according to Mr. Bigelow in his 

 recent address before the Nova Scotia Fruit 

 Growers' Association, are the principal fruit 

 crop of that province and the total yield for 

 export in 1901 has been about 300,000 

 barrels. Strange to say the English market 

 has been the least satisfactory ; the famous 

 Gravenstein, sold in Liverpool netting the 

 growers only $2.00 a barrel, while this var- 

 iety has sold in the American markets as 

 high as $4.00 and $5.00 a barrel. Another 

 singular thing noticed by Mr. Bigelow, is 

 that apples have been shipped to England 

 via Montreal at less cost and have arrived 

 in better condition than when shipped by 

 the much nearer route via Halifax. 



The Transportation Problem was taken up 

 by Mr. P. Innes, who complained that it 

 actually cost less to bring apples from On- 

 tario for the local trade, than to move them 

 within the province of Nova Scotia. Com- 

 paring the freight on flour and apples he 

 said : 



All tariffs are governed by the value and 

 quantity of goods carried. Apples go third 

 class at seventeen cents per 100 lbs., while 

 flour goes fifth class at ten and one-half 

 cents in car lots. The development of Nova 

 Scotian trade had grown immensely. Apples 

 might be worth $1.50 per barrel, flour $3.00 

 to $4.00. The difference was made in the 

 quantities carried and the charges ought to 

 be reversed. It was a glaring injustice that 

 apples should be carried at an average charge 

 of twenty-five per cent, above flour. Other 

 associations were looking for relief in this 

 matter and we should fall into line. He 

 would, therefore, submit this motion again, 

 hoping that the Association would act in 

 the present instance to better advantage 

 than they previously had done. 



RESOLUTION. 



Whereas, The Canadian Freight Rate 

 Classification was framed at a time when 



the apple production of the country was 

 comparatively limited, while prices were 

 high ; and 



Whereas, Since that time production has 

 enormously increased, while prices have 

 been continuously falling ; and 



Whereas, Apple growing has become an 

 important industry in western Nova Scotia, 

 the production averaging 500,000 barrels 

 annually ; and 



Whereas, The said freight classification 

 and any modifications or amendments thereof 

 have to be submitted to the sanction and be 

 approved by the Governor-in-council ; there- 

 fore 



Resolved, That this classification does 

 not meet the altered circumstances, and is 

 unfair and oppressive to the apple growers 

 and shippers of the province, and that we do 

 respectfully memorialize the Governor-in- 

 council to cause the said classification to be 

 amended by removing apples from the third 

 and fifth classes to the fifth and eighth classes 

 respectively. 



Apple Packing was illustrated practically 

 by Mr. Carson of Meaford, Ont. , by the aid 

 of two assistants, using three barrels of 

 Baldwins and a full set of appliances. He 

 advised first to secure enough uniform fruit 

 for facers, i. e., the end of the barrel. 

 With nippers remove the stems to pre- 

 vent marring or breaking of the skins ; 

 this induces decay. In facing put medium 

 sized fruit in the outside row ; next 

 circle, palce a size larger and aim through- 

 out to secure a face which will be an index 

 of the barrel. Set the barrel on a low plat 

 form for easy working, and in securing the 

 hoops use short nails to avoid marring the 

 inner surface of barrel. In filling, a basket 

 with round ends is most easily lowered into 

 the barrel. Instead of having a " double 

 facer," merely back the spaces of the first 

 layer with the red side of the second. In 

 filling put the barrel on a plank always. 

 Shake to secure compactness. 



