34 



To mention in detail the important properties throughout this area would 

 require considerable space, and be almost impossible. It must suffice, therefore, 

 to refer only to one or two of the more extensive undertakings, in order to give 

 a slight idea of the magnitude of the industry. 



A short distance from the village of Winona, one of the several important 

 shipping stations in this district, is situated the Helderleigh fruit farms and 

 nurseries, owned by Mr. E. D. Smith. This gentleman is in all probability the 

 largest single grower and shipper of fruit, both in its fresh condition and also 

 preserved in glass or cans, in Canada. He controls and operates several hundred 

 acres in bearing fruits and under nursery stock. In addition immense quantities 

 of fruit are purchased from the surrounding territory for shipment to outside 

 points. There is also erected on this property a splendidly equipped factory 

 for the purpose of manufacturing pure jam and jellies from fruits of all kinds, 

 for which an excellent demand has been created. 



Near by is to be found the extensive orchards of Messrs. J. W. Smith & 

 Sons, who are also largely engaged in the growing and shipping of fruit of all 

 kinds, but who make a specialty of peaches. The peach orchards on this property 

 are models for the country side, and have produced many very profitable crops. 



The pretty village of Grimsby, located immediately below Wolverton's 

 Point, one of the highest points in the escarpment running easterly through 

 this section, to the Niagara river, is situated in the centre of this splendid fruit 

 district. Extending for miles east and west on the main road, which is well 

 served by an excellent trolley line, are to be found the palatial homes of many 

 practical and successful fruitgrowers, who have contributed their quota to the 

 enviable reputation which this district has gained. 



Passing eastward through this section for some twenty-five miles, until 

 the Niagara river is reached, a continuous panorama of orchards and vineyards 

 is observed extending from the lake shore to the edge of the escarpment already 

 mentioned, which runs almost parallel to the shore at a distance of several miles. 

 This entire territory, including within its confines the villages of Grimsby, 

 Beamsville, Vineland, Jordan, Queenston, Virgil and Port Dalhousie, the town 

 of Niagara-on-the-Lake, and the city of St. Catharines, is most favourably 

 situated for the successful culture of the more tender fruits. It will not be 

 many years until the whole area will be entirely given over to this industry, 

 which even now forms the principal occupation of those residing on the land. 

 Above the Mountain in many sections, notably the townships of Pelham and 

 Stamford, equally favourable conditions are to be found. 



In the former townships are located two of the largest nurseries in Canada, 

 those of Messrs. Davidson and Wellington at Fonthill, and of Brown Brothers 

 Co., a short distance west. These firms supply a very large portion of the 

 nursery stock planted from one end of the Dominion to the other, and are well 

 known for their standing and reliability. 



Several important co-operative organizations of shippers have been estab- 

 lished to handle and distribute the large and increasing output of this district, 

 the chief of which are the Canada Fruit Company, the Ontario and Western 

 Co-operative Company, and the St. Catharines Cold Storage and Forwarding 

 Company, besides many others of more or less importance. The output of 

 fruit, exclusive of express shipments, for the season 1911 approximated twenty 

 five hundred carloads. This fruit finds its way to practically every city, town 

 and village in the Dominion east of the Rocky Mountains. Considerable 

 quantities are also forwarded to the British markets, an important develop- 

 ment of the past two years being the successful shipment of peaches to England 

 primarily under Government direction and supervision, and also by enterprising 

 individual growers and shippers. This undertaking promises to become very 

 successful when the necessary care is taken in handling to secure arrival at 

 destination in first class condition. At Jordan Harbour, midway between 

 Grimsby and St. Catharines, has been established the Provincial Experimental 



