31 



Colborne there are over a dozen warehouses having a capacity of more than 

 100,000 barrels. Brighton has nearly as many, and Trenton fewer in number 

 but with a larger capacity. There is also situated at Brighton a large store- 

 house fitted out with artificial refrigeration that will enable the growers in 

 this district to compete in the late spring trade if the markets demand it. 



The recent census gives the number of bearing apple trees in Prince Edward 

 county at 177,028, a decrease in number during the last ten years. There 

 has been, however, an increase in the number of non-bearing trees. The signi- 

 ficance of this is that some of the older trees have been dying out as the result 

 of the conditions previously referred to. Nevertheless the quantity of apples, 

 as the result of the better culture, is perhaps greater than ever before. Small 

 fruits, more particularly stawberries and raspberries, are an important feature 

 of this section and the trade in these fruits is quite extensive. 



ORCHARDS RAPIDLY INCREASING. 



Northumberland and Durham are among the few counties showing a 

 decided increase in the recent plantings. Durham is credited with an increase 

 of 100,000 non-bearing trees and Northumberland with 139,000. South Ontario 

 also shares in the general revival of apple growing and shows it more particularly 

 in the increased quantity of fruit produced per acre than in the number of trees 

 planted. Not the least noticeable feature of apple growing in South Ontario 

 is the formation of a large co-operative selling association that has done more 

 perhaps than any other one thing to promote the industry. Its headquarters 

 are at Oshawa, Mr. Elmer Lick being Manager. They have erected large ware- 

 houses and have organized the southern portion of the county so that this 

 one association controls a considerable portion of all the fruit grown in this 

 district. 



Several important co-operative associations are also in operation at New- 

 castle, Grafton, Orono and Bowmanville. 



This district is also remarkabl}' well adapted for pears. Unfortunately, 

 however, the local markets a number of years ago could not absorb at profitable 

 prices all that was grown and in a few orchards blight became prevalent. These 

 causes combined to discourage the planting of pear trees. Nevertheless there 

 are several very fine orchards in bearing, perhaps one of the finest pear orchards 

 in Ontario being that of Mr. E. C. Beman at Newcastle. All the standard 

 varieties grow here to perfection and there are also some fine pear orchards in 

 the neighbourhood of Oshawa. 



PEAR CULTURE SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED. 



It seems a little unfortunate that the culture of pears in this district should 

 be on the decline. Markets were never keener for this delicious fruit and the 

 means of transportation and train service are being rapidly extended and im- 

 proved. The facilities for shipping to Great Britain are perhaps even better 

 than for shipping to the north-western markets, and in Great Britain there is an 

 unlimited market for the fine varieties that grow here. 



Plums and cherries are to be found in all the fruit plantations and a large 

 expansion in those two fruits might profitably be undertaken. At present they 

 do not form a large portion of the output. 



Speaking generally of the whole district from Oshawa to Belleville there 

 seems no good reason to doubt that eventually the greater part of the land will 

 be appropriated for winter apple orchards. There is no artificial stimulus in 

 the way of real estate agents and companies to boom the district; nevertheless, 

 planting is perhaps more general here than anyw r here else in the Province. 



