STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. I5I 



The method of handling the fruit products of the valley prior 

 to this date was very easy, and eminently satisfactory to a cer- 

 tain few individuals, but far too easy and satisfactory to be 

 much appreciated by the fruit grower. 



The European commission houses handling Nova Scotian 

 fruit had their agents over here. During the shipping season 

 these agents had sub-agents at nearly all railway stations from 

 which any quantity of fruit was shipped. The farmer would 

 pack his apples at home and haul them to the station on an 

 appointed day, where the sub-agent would make up carload lots 

 and forward on his immediate superior's orders. These apples 

 were then left to the tender mercies of the consignees who 

 when they eventually sold them would commence piling up an 

 account of charges that were really startling in their ingenuity. 

 A charge was made for every conceivable thing under the sun, 

 including commission for every one who had anything to do 

 with the apples, and when all was deducted that the consignee's 

 conscience would allow, the farmer received an account of 

 sales and sometimes a check representing what remnant of the 

 wreck remained for him. 



The farmers chafed under this system of disposing of their 

 products, but individually could do nothing. 



An attempt was made about ten years ago to organize some 

 kind of a cooperative movement, but owing to the fact that it 

 was on too comprehensive a scale and lacked the necessary 

 business application, it was a failure. 



In 1907 a few of the most up-to-date and energetic farmers 

 in Berwick made up their minds, however, that in cooperation 

 alone was to be found a cure for the state of affairs that then 

 existed. The product from their orchards was increasing year 

 by year and they realized that there were only two ways in 

 which they could give proper attention to the packing and grad- 

 ing of their fruit. One way was to individually build apple 

 houses on their farms large enough to permit of fruit being 

 stored and packed ; another was to get together and build or 

 buy a large warehouse on the line of railway where the apples 

 of all could be stored and packed. 



The latter was the scheme that appeared the most attractive 

 and these men formed the first cooperative fruit company in 

 Nova Scotia. 



