213 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST 



September, 1909 



Ontario's Export Apple Trade 



p. p. Farmer, Toronto 



When in England last winter, I learned 

 some things that may help to improve On- 

 tario's apple trade with Great Britain. 

 There is there, as elsewhere, the common 

 ordinary produce which sells cheap, and the 

 selected well-packed commodity which cora- 

 mands from the consumer an attractivo 

 price — a price away above that which is 

 in proportion with the cost of production 

 Superior quality of commodity, practically 

 speaking, always gives the greatest returns 

 for the cost of production and marketing 

 and this is true especially where the cost 

 of transportation is a large factor in the 

 cost of the commodity laid down at the 

 market. It costs no more to transport a 

 box of apples which sell for twelve shillings 

 than it costs to transport a box which only 

 sells for five shillings. 



There is also another very important ad- 

 vantage in supplying the market with a 

 high-class product. It has been proven time 

 and again that if you supply a market with 

 any desirable commodity, the fact 

 that the consumers see this offered for sale 

 makes them desire to purchase it, 

 and when they buy it and use it, that 

 very offering of this product for sale, creat- 

 es in itself a demand. This is particularly 

 true of the banana trade, which has been 

 extended so successfully by this method and 

 it applies directly also to the apple situa- 

 tion. A few apple growers in Oregon have 

 been putting up choice apples in a neat and 

 attractive package, and have been offering 

 the same to the British public through the 

 high-class fruit stores. They have been ex- 

 tending their trade to such an extent that 

 the Oregon Newton Pippins have a reputa- 

 tion as the standard apple on the British 

 market. . 



An appreciable number of Ontario apple 

 growers could co-operate and pack certain 

 varieties of Ontario apples in bushel boxes, 

 each apple carefully wrapped and each apple 

 carefully selected to a size, so that there 

 would not be different sizes of apples in the 

 same box, and then ship these apples to a 



comiiiission firm with whom they had pn y 

 iously negoDiaceU ana arranged to have this 

 specially selected fruit offered for sale in some 

 of the best fruit stores in the United King- 

 dom. They could arrange to send a regular 

 supply so that these stores, whether they bo 

 few or many, could continually display in 

 the sight ot their customers, this superior 

 fruit, familiarizing them with the fruit and 

 the varieties, but more particularly with the 

 name of the brand under which the apples 

 will be sold. Time would bring to the 

 growers co-operating in this movement, a 

 substantial trade and increased profit. 



The reason that I suggest shipping 

 through a commission firm is, because there 

 will be opposition to such movement if 

 an attempt is made to enter the market 

 direct. The men in the apple business in 

 England are too strong a tactor to ignore. 

 The Ontario growers who co-operate might 

 find it advisable to purchase a partnership 

 or a controlling interest in a commission firm 

 operating at Covent Garden or to estab- 

 lish a commission firm of their own. When 

 the trade was firmly established, it would be 

 possible then to do away with the com- 

 mission firm, if thought advisable, and ship 

 direct to retailers; but, at the present time 

 in such a movement as this, it would be 

 necessary to avoid any antagonism on the 

 part of the commission men. These apples 

 should be clearly marked with a brand or 

 name of the firm so that the consumer would 

 get into the habit of looking for apples put 

 up by this organization. The Oregon apple 

 growers are adopting a method somewhat 

 similar to this, and, as a result, their ap- 

 ples bring a top price in the English mar- 

 ket, retailing in December last at four pence 

 per pound. 



I have said nothing regarding the increas- 

 ed profit which would accrue to the growers 

 by saving the fees of the middle men. That 

 has been discussed so often, from time to 

 time, that it need scarcely be taken up 

 here. The attractiveness of our fruit as it 

 reaches the consumer will be the largest 

 factor in increasing the consumption of the 



;[us 



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 preserves fruit and vegetables. 



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Reports from eastern Ontario indicate 

 that early hatches this season were poor 

 and that fewer chickens on the whole were 

 hatched and these are chiefly late. Per- 

 haps less attention was given this year than 

 usual to poultry raising. The high price 

 prevailing for all grains and ground feeding 

 stuffs make poultry raising a serious prob- 

 lem, especially to those who wish to make a 

 profit. There seems to be no hope that 

 grain will be cheaper in the future. To off- 

 set this, eggs and poultry are much more 

 expensive. 



it would not be a surprise to see eggs at 

 $1.00 a dozen the coming winter. One man 

 in Ottawa claims that he sold his eggs last 

 December at 90 cents a dozen. The best way 

 for each householder to get fresh eggs cheap- 

 ly is to a few fowl. Nearly every house in 

 our cities, towns and villages, has sufficient 

 back yard space to accomodate a few hens, 

 say seven or eight. A cock is not necessary 

 because his crowing will annoy the neigh- 

 bors and eggs for hatching can easily be 

 obtained in the hatching season from an- 

 other source. A few hens will do remark- 

 ably well fed upon the table refuse which is 

 very often burned or wasted. The addition 

 of a little grain to the table scraps makes 

 a well balanced ration, in fact, the very 

 best and, with intelligent attention to clean- 

 liness, laying fowl can be successfully kept 

 in a very small space. Anyone intending 

 to begin poultry keeping or to improve 

 their stock can do so more cheaply now than 

 at any other time. All breeders have sur- 

 plus young stock to dispose of at this season 

 and will sell either yearling birds or chick- 

 ens at bargain prices. 



It is now time to overhaul the hen house, 

 repair broken windows, whitewash the inter- 

 ior and get ready to put the laying stock 

 into winter quarters. 



I enjoy The Canadian Hortiottlttjrist 

 very much, and appreciate the improve- 

 ments being made. — P. Austin, Lambton 

 Co., Ont. 



A Dominion fruit inspector has been ap- 

 pointed for the Niagara district in the per- 

 son of Mr. W. Furminger of St. Catharines. 

 His duties will be confined chiefly to the 

 tender fruits, which, in cases where the 

 practice is not now followed, he will endeav- 

 or to have graded and packed in accordance 

 with the demands of the law. 



Professional and amateur gardeners will 

 be interested in the "Autumn Floral Guide" 

 for 1909 that has been issued by Dupuy and 

 Furgeson, Montreal. It contains a full list 

 of the varieties of tulips, hyacinths, narcissi 

 and other bulbs, perennials, shrubs, trees 

 and other plants and articles for horticul- 

 turists. The new white trumpet daffodil, 

 "Mme. de Graaff," is offered. It is a beau- 

 tiful flower and a strong grower. The col- 

 lection of old-fashioned hardy perennial 

 plants is another feature of the catalogue. 

 Send for a copy. 



Grow Ginseng 



Ginseng is the most profitable crop in exist- 

 ence for small acreage, is easily cultivated 

 and grows anywhere in Canada. Our stock 

 of roots and seeds is the result of years of 

 development and is guaranteed. Send I 

 cents postage for illustrated booklet. 

 E. S. BUNCHARD & CO., BOX 102, BRANTFORD, ONT. 



