The Canadian Horticulturist 



Vol. XXIX 



APRIL, 1906 



No. 4 



TKe Dominion Fruit Conference 



TH E Dominion Fruit Conference 

 that took place in Ottawa March 

 20, 21 and 22, was the most im- 

 portant gathering of the kind ever con- 

 vened in Canada. In spite of the fact 

 that the meetings should have been ex- 

 tended over a week, instead of over 

 only three days, many matters of vital 

 interest to the fruit industry were dealt 

 with, and decisions concerning same 

 reached and recorded. Owing to the 

 short time available for the consider- 

 ation of the numerous important points 

 raised, it was not possible for those 

 present to draft as carefully as was de- 

 sirable some of the resolutions that 

 were adopted. In the form in which 

 they were passed, however, together 

 with the discussions that took place 

 concerning them, they will serve to 

 make known the opinions and desires 

 of the most thoroughly representative 

 gathering of fruit growers that, as yet, 

 has been held in the Dominion. Owing 

 to lack of time many important mat- 

 ters that were on the program for 

 discussion were not touched. This was 

 unfortunate, but the disappointment of 

 those present was dispelled, in a large 

 measure, when Hon. Sydney Fisher, 

 Minister of Agriculture for the Domin- 

 ion, announced that he would arrange 

 . for similar gatherings every two or 

 three years in future. This announce- 

 ment brought out hearty applause. 



Put briefly, the most important rec- 

 ommendations passed were the fol- 

 lowing: That in the Fruit Marks Act a 

 new grade, to be known as "fancy," 

 ^hall be established, which will include 



(rfect fruit only. 

 That the act define a number two 



nple. A definition of a number two 



vas adopted. 

 That in future the numbers 1, 2 and 

 only shall be used in grading fruit, 



nd that the marking x, xx or xxx 



lall be discouraged. 

 That the penalty imposed in the case 



I third convictions for infractions of 



lie act shall be increased. 

 That the 28 inch barrel shall be made 



lie standard barrel, and the use of 



irger barrels be discontinued. 

 That the standard box used for the 



xport of fruit shall be made the stand- 



ird box for inter-provincial trade as 



veil. 



That the department prepare and 

 distribute widely regular reports on 

 fruit crop conditions throughout Can- 

 ada, and in the United States and 

 Europe as well; these reports to be 

 issued twice a month during the late 

 summer and fall. Hon. Mr. Fisher 

 expressed his wiUingness to undertake 

 work of this nature. 



That cars of apples for export be 

 iced at the government expense, as is 

 now done in the case of dairy products. 

 Hon. Mr. Fisher promised that this will 

 be done. 



That direct sales by growers to re- 

 tailers be encouraged, and that the 



Hon. Sydney Fisher, Minister of Agriculture 



Who presided witti great ability at the sessions of the 

 Dominion Fruit Conference 



government appoint men whose duty 

 it will be to develop markets for fruit 

 in Great Britain and on the continent. 



That express companies shall be 

 placed under the control of the Rail- 

 way Commission. 



That railway companies be required 

 to give a service with fruit cars of not 

 less than 12 miles an hour; that they 

 be held responsible for damage to fruit 

 when they fail to furnish cars within 

 six days after the cars have been or- 

 dered ; that they establish icing stations 

 at divisional points; that protection 



from sun and rain shall be furnished 

 at all stations where fruit is loaded in 

 carload quantities, and that shippers 

 shall be kept informed of the location 

 of cars in transit. 



That the Pure Foods Law be en- 

 forced in regard to the manufacture of 

 jams and jellies. 



That the making of exhibits of Cana- 

 dian fruit at foreign exhibitions shall 

 be encouraged. 



That spraying demonstrations in the 

 various provinces be continued and 

 extended, and 



That several improvements shall be 

 made in the shipment of fruit across 

 the Atlantic. 



The resolutions committee also brought 

 in a resolution calling for the separation 

 of the fruit from the dairy division of 

 the Dominion Department of Agri- 

 culture, but, as described elsewhere, 

 through some clever manipulation on 

 the part of the chairman, Hon. Sydney 

 Fisher, this resolution was not dealt 

 with. 



A resolution recommending the pro- 

 vincial governments to enact legisla- 

 tion that will protect growers from 

 being defrauded by commission deal 

 ers was adopted. 



THE CONFERENCE 



The conference was called by Hon. 

 Sydney Fisher, Dominion Minister of 

 Agriculture, as a result of requests made 

 during recent years by the various provin- 

 cial fruit growers' associations. Growers 

 have long felt the need for the convening 

 of such a gathering, that matters of national 

 importance pertaining to the fruit in- 

 terests, which could not be discussed 

 satisfactorily at provincial meetings, 

 might be considered and dealt with. 



The most noticeable feature of the 

 sessions was the national spirit that 

 manifested itself in the remarks of the 

 various delegates. There was a sub- 

 dued enthusiasm all through the meet- 

 ings, and an apparent desire to har- 

 monize the various conflicting interests 

 of the different provinces. Again and 

 again delegates expressed a willingness 

 to give way on minor matters relating 

 to their province or provinces in order 

 that harmonious action might be 

 possible on the part of all the provinces. 

 This assisted in the solution of several 



