80 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



land, we take the first opportunity to 

 give it room in these pages. 



It will be observed tliat the view is 

 from the opposite side to that which 

 was shown on p. 4 of this volume. 



In connection with this fine illustra- 

 tion the article by our worthy Presi- 

 dent on the benefits to be derived from 

 the Colonial Exhibition, will be read 

 with great interest. 



THE PROSPECTIVE BENEFITS OF THE 

 COLINDERIES. 



BT ALEX. M'D. ALLAN, GODERICH, ONT. 



If SUBSTANTIAL permanent benefit is 

 to be derived from the Canadian ex- 

 hibit at the Colinderies, we should not 

 not cease to perfect plans for success- 

 fully carrying out all that may be nec- 

 essary in order to hold a market or 

 establish more permanently, markets 

 recently opened out to us. It has been 

 clearly proven that by cold stoi'age our 

 early and soft fruits, especially a])ples, 

 can be successfully shipped to the Bri- 

 tish markets. Is the matter going to 

 drop at this 1 If not, what steps are 

 to be taken to have a permanent line 

 of cold storage established in one or 

 more of our steamship lines 1 Now is 

 the time to make preparation. I be- 

 lieve our Government should deal with 

 the matter in negotiating ; and intend- 

 ing shippers could give an idea early in 

 the season as to the space each could 

 occupy, and the length of time such 

 space would be needed. All our early 

 apples could be shipped successfully, 

 and good prices realised, so long as a 

 good, sample article only is shipped. 



Then there other articles that can 

 be profitably shipped. Table sweet 

 corn in the cob, I feel sui-e, can 

 be disposed of in large quantities ; 

 and it will carry admix-ably in cold 

 storage. I would not advise the ship- 

 ping of early pears and plums, as a rule. 

 But if the markets in Britain are hold- 

 ing out a suflicient demand, owing to a 



generally short home and European 

 crop, then these fruits can be shipped 

 at remunerative prices. Our green 

 flesh nutmeg melons would realize enor- 

 mous prices in London and Liverpool. 

 Grapes, if packed in convenient bas- 

 kets, could be shipped so as to sell at 

 prices that would pay the vineyardist. 

 But the demand would be small at first, 

 as our out-door grapes are not known 

 on the British markets, and the people 

 would not purchase them largely, until 

 a taste were fairly established for them. 

 In that country it is only the compara- 

 tively wealthy who can afford to eat 

 grapes, the prices being beyond what 

 any other class can afford. But as they 

 can only grow grapes under glass, it will 

 be readily seen that our open-air kinds 

 can be grown and sent into these mar- 

 kets at a much lower price, so that a 

 very large class of consumers who can- 

 not afford to purchase such a luxury at 

 the high prices charged for British hot- 

 house grown grapes, would be glad to 

 obtain ours at such prices as would 

 amply pay both grower and shipper in 

 Canada. But such a trade can only be 

 established gradually, as the tastes of 

 consumers are educated into a relish 

 for our grapes. 



As I will have regular advices by 

 cable next season, of the pi'ospects 

 and state of the British fruit mar- 

 kets, it will give me pleasui-e to ad- 

 vise with intending shippers as to 

 what to ship, and where, when, and to 

 whom, as well as any other advice they 

 may require ; and I hope to hear often 

 from many such through your columns. 

 I would suggest that all intending 

 shippers who can possibly do so, should 

 attend our Fruit Growers' Association 

 summer meeting for a conference upon 

 points connected with the trade. I 

 find that good results of the Colonial 

 are showing themselves continually. 

 By every mail I receive letters from 

 British agi-icultarists who desire to 



