Chatham Fruit Growers' Association 



THE business of the Chatham Fruit 

 Growers' Ass(jciation for 1905 was 

 the most successful in the history of 

 the association. Prices were the high- 

 est that have 

 been realized, 

 and there were 

 practically no 

 losses. This 

 association 

 started busi- 

 ness nine 

 years ago with 

 a membership 

 of about 12, 

 and shipped 

 two carloads. 

 At that time 

 each member 

 packed his 

 own fruit. In 

 1902 the central packing house system 

 was adopted, and in that year 42 car- 

 loads were shipped. In 1903 the crop 

 was a failure, and we shipped only 

 seven cars. In 1904 we shipped 43 

 cars, and this season another off crop, 

 26 cars. ^ 



During this time the membership has 

 gradually increased till it has reached 

 almost 100, and it will be necessary to 

 increase our packing facilities to ac- 

 commodate the increasing membership. 



W. D. A. Ross 



"W. D. A.. R-oss, Secretary-Treasurer 



The association has plans under consid- 

 eration with that end in view. 



Before members are admitted their 

 orchards are inspected and nothing but 

 men with first-class orchards are ac- 

 cepted. In the spring of 1902, the as- 

 sociation purchased a large power 

 spraying outfit, run by a gasoline en- 

 gine. It is used exclusively for spray- 

 ing members' orchards. Three men 

 and a team are employed to run the 

 outfit* continuously for three months 

 during the spraying season. This year, 

 in addition to the Bordeaux, 75 barrels 

 of crude oil were used in fighting San 

 Jose Scale. Excellent results followed 

 its use. This co-operative plan of spray- 

 ing is very effective and equally satis- 

 factory, as the members have not al- 

 ways the time to attend to it when it 

 should be done, and many lack experi- 

 ence in the work. The cost of spraying 

 is charged to each member and de- 

 ducted from his fruit returns in the 

 fall. Those who are spraying regularly 

 are reaping handsome returns from their 

 investment. 



The fruit is handled on a mutual 

 basis — averaging returns for similar 

 grades so that no one gets a preference, 

 and the losses, if any, are distributed. 

 This season we made three grades of 

 apples: Fancy, which netted the grower 



$2.50 to $3.00 a barrel; XXX netting 

 $2.03 on the average; and XX netting 

 an average of $1.41. These prices are 

 net after paying all expenses for man- 

 agement, packing, barrels, etc.; every- 

 thing except the picking is included, 

 and we feel proud of the record. In 

 addition to the apples, a large quantity 

 of other fruits were handled, and they 

 turned out equally well. 



There is a healthy rivalry springing 

 up among our members in their en- 

 deavor to excel, and since the best 

 orchards in the association are just 

 coming into their prime, a splendid 

 future is anticipated. Several members 

 are receiving cheques of $500 to 

 $1,000 from orchards that previously, 

 if sold at all, realized only $200 to 

 $300 a year. 



One of the chief elements of success 

 in our association is the hearty co-oper- 

 ation of the members in everything that 

 promises to advance its best interests. 

 As secretary-treasurer, I have been ably- 

 assisted by an efficient board of direct- 

 ors, and an energetic business represent- 

 ative, Mr. W. A. McGeachy. We strong- 

 ly recommend the co-operative system 

 of handling fruit as our results show, 

 that it is the only method that will en- 

 sure a uniform grade — special brand — 

 and a good business connection. 



Some Notes from the E^xperimenters 



SEVERAL of the well-known fruit 

 growers, who are in charge of some 

 of the fruit experiment stations in On- 

 tario, gave results of their work at two 

 special meetings, held for that purpose 

 at the time of the Ontario Horticultural 

 Exhibition, in November. 



The superintendent of the stations, 

 Mr. Linus Woolverton, of Grimsby, 

 pointed out that we already have co- 

 operation in spraying, packing and sell- 

 ing, but that the curse of many orchards 

 is the numerous varieties they contain 

 on a few acres. He claimed that by 

 co-operation in planting and by the 

 growers paying attention to the work 

 of the experiment stations much could 

 be done that would result in fewer and 

 more desirable varieties being kept in 

 the average orchard. 



In talking about desirable novelties, 

 Mr. Dempsey alluded to the fact that 

 the horticulturists 30 or 40 years ago, 

 who produced new and profitable var- 

 ieties by crossing, had been lost sight of. 

 He claimed that such men as Saunders, 

 Dempsey, Arnold and Macoun were as 

 worthy of recognition as Burbank. Al- 



though favoring the introduction of new 

 varieties he advised the growers to be 

 careful in planting them, as different 

 varieties are suited to different soils. Of 

 the newer varieties Coo's River Beauty, 

 which came from the California E.xperi- 

 ment Station, was one of the best. 

 York Imperial, Windsor Chief and Down- 

 ing's Winter Maiden Blush are also 

 promising sorts. 



In the discussion that followed Mr. 

 W. T. Macoun, of Ottawa, said that the 

 hardiness of the stock in top-grafting 

 seemed to have no appreciable influence 

 on the hardiness of new wood. A weak 

 trunk is a great defect. 



The subject of hardy fruits was dealt 

 with by Mr. Harold Jones, of Maitland. 

 It was stated that varieties that succeed 

 in Durham and Northumberland may 

 fail east of Kingston, although there is 

 not much difference in temperature. In 

 that county Fameuse, Scarlet Pippin 

 and Mcintosh Red are the standard 

 varieties. They withstand the severe 

 winters but are subject to spot unless 

 thoroughly sprayed, and all come in 

 early in the season. A profitable var- 



iety to cover the season from Christmas 

 on is wanted. Spy has been found to 

 be hardy until it comes into full bearing, 

 but after one or two crops the trees die. 

 Ontario was thought to be the desired 

 variety, but the winter of 1903-04 killed 

 almost every tree. Baldwin and Green- 

 ing are not hardy. Russet is the most 

 profitable winter variety for that section, 

 but shrinks badly in ordinary storage. 

 The Northwest Greening is hardy and 

 prolific, but lacks quality. McMahon 

 White is desirable because of its vigor- 

 ous growth and its excellence as a stock 

 on which to top-graft other varieties. 

 It forms an extra strong crotch and is 

 hardy. Milwaukee and Scott's Winter 

 are promising varieties for cooking. 

 Others that are uncertain bearers or 

 lacking in quality are Salome, Baxter, 

 Blue Pearmain and Delaware Red. 



In the report of the Transportation 

 Committee Mr. Bunting said that it 

 taxed the railway companies at times to 

 handle the fruit in the Niagara penin- 

 sula. The committee had asked the rail- 

 way commission to attend to the matter 

 and their request was not overlooked. 



