Fruit Growing in Scotland 39 



figures show the gross tonnage dispatched from Coupar-Angus in recent 

 years: 1906, 188 tons; 1908, 138 tons; 1909, 610 tons; 1910, 654 tons. 



Auehterarder. The fruit trade was still fairly prosperous in 1907, with 

 no apparent sign of over-production. In that year an extensive scheme 

 was launched in west Perthshire. The farm of Shinafoot, extending to 

 80 ac., and consisting of light soil, situated about 1J ml. to the east of 

 Auehterarder station, was purchased. A company, called the Shinafoot 

 Estate Company. Ltd., was floated, which took over the farm. Since 

 then the whole land, with the exception of 4 or 5 ac., has" been planted 

 with Raspberries. About the same time the farm of Drumtogle, extending 

 to 220 ac., situated about 2| ml. from Dunning station, was purchased by 

 a Blairgowrie merchant. The Drumtogle soil is heavier and more reten- 

 tive than the soil at Shinafoot, but most of it is equally suitable for the 

 production of fruit. The w r hole farm was divided into small holdings, and 

 sold to purchasers at 50 per acre. The price is payable, as in the Essendy 

 case, by ten equal yearly instalments, with interest at 4 per cent on the 

 unpaid balances. The holdings extend from 2 to 40 ac. With the excep- 

 tion of a few acres under ordinary agricultural crops, practically every 

 holding is planted with Raspberry bushes. 



One of the serious problems which the growers in this part of the 

 county had to face was the question of pickers. In some respects it was 

 more serious than it had been in other parts of the county. This was 

 due to the fact that practically the whole area, extending to nearly 300 ac., 

 was laid down at once. There has been, therefore, no gradual development 

 of the industry. Moreover, the population in the surrounding villages is 

 limited. The growers have, therefore, had to depend largely on casual 

 labour. They have erected accommodation for between 1000 arid 2000 

 pickers. Restaurants and grocers' shops have been built at suitable places 

 on the farms. Everything has been done to ensure as far as possible the 

 comfort and the convenience of the pickers, and the expeditious reaping 

 of the harvest. 



The growers are associated with the Essendy fruit growers in connec- 

 tion with the sale and dispatch of their fruit. The representative of the 

 Essendy fruit growers at Blairgowrie controls the Auehterarder traffic. 

 He sees it dispatched from Auehterarder station, and supervises the dis- 

 posal of it to preservers throughout the country. The Glasgow repre- 

 sentative of the Essendy Association deals with the Auehterarder traffic 

 going to the West of Scotland, and assists in the disposal of the 

 Auehterarder fruit generally throughout the United Kingdom. The 

 London representative confines his energies to operations in the London 

 market. 



Overproduction. The abnormal development of small-fruit culture 

 in Scotland has had a disastrous effect on the fruit industry. The prices 

 obtained during the years 1908, 1909, and 1910 were not sufficient to 

 meet the expenses of cultivation. It is not possible to say how many 

 acres in full bearing were uprooted in Scotland in 1910, but the land 



