STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 157 



Steps were taken in June, 1912, to complete the organization 

 of this movement and to incorporate as many companies as pos- 

 sible into one central body. 



The speculators who had so long made a very lucrative liv- 

 ing out of the farmers did not allow this organization to be 

 effected without a determined opposition, but thanks to the zeal 

 and untiring energy which was put into it, twenty-four of the 

 twenty-seven cooperative companies signed the Memorandum 

 of Association, .which gave birth to the United Fruit Companies 

 of Nova Scotia, Limited. 



The company is incorporated with an authorized capital of 

 $50,000.00, of which $42,000.00 is subscribed, each subsidiary 

 company subscribing 20% of its authorized capital. 



The organization meeting was held at Kentville on July 8, 

 191 2, the companies being represented by seventy-two dele- 

 gates. By-laws were adopted and directors and officers were 

 appointed, each company being represented on the directorate 

 by one representative. 



Three other companies have been formed and have come into 

 the Central Association since organization, so that there are 

 now twenty-seven companies. 



All the companies agreed to come in under a by-law which 

 gives the Central Association complete control of all their fruit. 

 All apples are pooled and average prices are returned to the 

 companies according to the class and grade of fruit packed out. 



These companies collectively have a membership of about 

 1500 of the most up-to-date and progressive farmers of the 

 valley. The United Fruit Companies can therefore claim to 

 have control of the best fruit produced in the finest fruit pro- 

 ducing district in Canada. 



There are thirty warehouses belonging to the companies, hav- 

 ing a total frost proof storage capacity for 420,000 barrels of 

 apples. These warehouses are turning out on an average 20,000 

 barrels of apples a week. Three of the companies have erected 

 evaporators where the cull apples are used up, thus reducing 

 waste to a minimum. It is the aim of the United Fruit Com- 

 panies to establish and maintain a uniform high standard of 

 pack which they guarantee. It is considered that in this way 

 a demand will be created for cooperative packed fruit which 

 will naturally mean higher returns. Already the superiority of 



