STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 155 



better prices all around. Verily, in this initial year, the Central 

 Association did not lack opportunities. 



Take the matter of transportation, for instance. The supply 

 of steamships, usually all sufficient to carry the apple crop to 

 European markets, proved totally inadequate to cope with the 

 tremendous quantities of early fruit sent forward. The end of 

 September saw the Halifax terminal blocked, its cars of fruit 

 sweltering- in the sun and no boats to carry it to market. The 

 Central Association quickly grasped the situation and dis- 

 patched four train loads to Montreal, connecting there with 

 fast boats to England. This, however, was only done as a tem- 

 porary relief. In the meantime they chartered four boats 

 which carried some 40,000 barrels out of Halifax, and so effect- 

 ually relieved the situation at that port that a similar conges- 

 tion did not occur again throughout the entire season. I claim 

 that the farmers of the valley were saved thousands of dollars 

 by that action. Not only did the members of the companies 

 benefit, but the entire body of fruit growers. That action alone 

 justified the existence of the Central and should have earned 

 for it the support of all fair-minded and clear-thinking men. 



The Central Association proved also a great selling factor. 

 During the season it sold for the companies 102,000 barrels of 

 apples, and what is quite as important, made good prices. 



Another very useful work accomplished was the securing of. 

 space on steamers and attending to the shipping of the com- 

 panies' apples. During the season 400,000 barrels of apples 

 were shipped on its bills of lading. 



In the matter of marine insurance a great saving was effected. 

 The fact that the Central had some 400,000 barrels to insure, 

 secured for the companies an exceptionally close rate and cut 

 out that little item seen on most account of sales which in the 

 aggregate amounts to a startling figure. 



Insurance of the warehouses and contents was also effected 

 at a very close rate, the Central earning the commission usually 

 going to the agents. 



Supplies were bought at very low figures. An order for 

 1,250,000 pulp heads and 500 kegs of nails naturally secured 

 inside prices. The largest saving, however, was made in the 

 purchase of fertilizers. Many companies who had stood loyally 

 by their Central throughout the apple deals backed out when 



