42 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



It had long been thought that a good market for the farmers' 

 Nova Scotia Gravensteins could be found in the Canadian 

 west. This splendid apple never had a chance on the European 

 markets on account of the large quantities of English fruit 

 always available in those markets early in the season, and the 

 lack of fast boats to place it on that market in prime condition. 

 The Central engaged a man of marked ability as a salesman to 

 go west and see what could be done. As a result of this short 

 trip some 12,000 barrels were shipped to the northwest prov- 

 inces by the Central Association. The opening up of this 

 market has proved a great boon to the Nova Scotia apple trade, 

 for, as is ever the case when a new market is found, the old 

 markets were relieved and thereby steadied, resulting in better 

 prices all round. 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 effec- 

 tually relieved the situation to that port that a similar con- 

 gestion did not occur again throughout the entire season. I 

 claim that the farmers of the valley were saved thousands of 

 dollars by this action. Not only did the members of the com- 

 panies 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 also proved 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- 



