May, 1915. 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST 



139 



Prairie Dealers' Comments on the Fruit They Handle A FARMER'S GARDEN 



KEEN competition has developed during 

 the past few years among the fruit- 

 growing sections of Canada and the 

 United States to capture as large a share 

 as practicable of the prairie markets. The 



*llorwing comments from firms on the 

 airies that handle considerable quantities 

 apples each year, in reference to the ap- 

 ples — ^moTe particularly those from Ontario 

 — are full of interest: 



Plunilcett & Savage, Calgary, Alberta: 

 "T.he Calgary market prefers apples packed 

 in iboxes. The size of the box does not 

 matter very much, but it is our opinion 

 that you can ipack and make a more attrac- 

 tive package of the 18% x 11% x 10%, 

 which is the Washington standard box. 

 These are put up in attractive style, papei- 

 Ilned, and all fruit wrapped, which is a help 

 to the apples for long keeping. 



"Our trouble with Eastern apples has 

 been to get an honest pack. We have 

 handled thousands of barrels from Ontario, 

 and, with possibly tiwo or three exceptions, 

 none of the stock has turned out satisfac- 

 torily. Apples, many times, when leaving 

 the east, appear to ibe very nice, but within 

 a month or six weeks there is a dark fungi 

 gro-svth and decay starts, giving the fruit a 

 bad appearance and practically stopping its 

 sale, excepting at a low price. 



"Attractive fruit of good keeping quality 

 and color will always demand a good price 

 In the west. Until such time as the prov- 

 ince of Ontario can put up such fruit, their 

 chances of getting in on this market are 

 very small. 



"British Columtiia is a strong contender 

 in the western market. They are putting 

 up their stock better every year and are 

 going in for imore hardy varieties and less 

 soft varieties than formerly. The experi- 

 mentaa stage is now past as far as grow- 

 ing is concerned: they are dofwn now to 

 ■well-known, staJble varieties. For instance, 

 we will give preference to British Colum- 

 bia on Mcintosh, Gravensteins and Weal- 

 thies over any other section in Canada or 

 the Northwestern States that we know of, 

 for the reason that these three varieties 

 grow to perfection, particularly the Mc- 

 intosh and Wealthies. We cannot say as 

 much for their Spies and Baldiwlns; they 

 do not appear to have as good color as the 

 east, ibut on account of the fruit being large, 

 it is attractive and is very desirable." 



The Regina Trading Co., Regina, Sask. : 

 "Ontario fruit is holding its own on the 

 Regina market although we receive large 

 quantities from British Columbia and Wash- 

 ington. For flavor and general appearance, 

 there is nothing to equal an Ontario North- 



em Spy. The packing and style of the 

 Ontario apples (in ibexes) compares favor- 

 ably with the districts mentioned. The 

 boxes 18% x 11% X 10% are the best for 

 this market. 



"There is a demand for Ontario ibarrel 

 apples in the country, but in the cities the 

 trade requires boxes. While there is stiil 

 a call for barrels in the city, the demand 

 lessens each year. The grade of Ontario 

 apples in former years has been poor. The 

 pack has been poor. The barrels of No. 1 

 apples were in nearly every case No. 2 in 

 the centre of the 'barrels. We handled four 

 cars of Ontario apples one wee'k last year, 

 and only one came up to the standard. It 

 was a Norfolk pack. The general outlook 

 for Ontario fruit in the west was never 

 better than it is to^iay. The smaller fruits 

 — plums, peaches, and pears — are in great 

 demand. 



"In the case of plums, tomatoes, ana 

 pears, the baskets in too many cases aro 

 broken. We would advise packing in the 

 best baskets possible. One improvement 

 last year was the netw top for the baskets, 

 instead of the ordinary net top." 



Sharp Criticism. 



Campibell, Wilson & Home, Ltd., Leth- 

 bridige. Alberta: "Ontario apples have prac- 

 tically lost their sale on this market. The 

 last Ontario fruit we received was in 1911, 

 Although ibought for No. 1 grade, it was 

 very poor quajlity and did not compare with 

 either British Columhia or Washington 

 fruit. 



"The Ontario fruit packed in boxes that 

 we have received has been all right, as far 

 as the packing goes, in comparison with 

 other districts. The standard boxes that 

 are put on this market are supposed to con- 

 tain .fjO net of apples. These are the most 

 satisfactory. We advise all Ontario apples 

 to be packed in hoxes for this market, as 

 they usually arrive in m.uoh abetter condi 

 tion than those in barrels. 



"The last Ontario fruit cars we received 

 did not compare in quality nor were they 

 of the same uniform sizes as those we i'e- 

 ceived from packers to the weSt of us. The 

 fruit was scabby and did not hold up, and 

 we nearly lost a couple of cars by the Pro- 

 vincial Inspector. Unless a radical im- 

 provement is made, the time will come 

 when it will be almost impossible for On- 

 tario fruit to compete out here with other 

 districts. We also believe that it will not 

 be many years hence when apples are 

 grown in the district surrounding I^eth- 

 brldge. A nuTOber of trees are already 

 bearing here and also in Magrath and Stir- 

 ling." 



Ill ■IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIDIIIIIIII lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllt* 



Helps his wife to plan her table in busy times. Saves work g 

 and worry, saves buyingf so much meat, gives better satis- - 

 faction to the help. A good garden will be almost impossi- S 

 ble in your busy life without proper tools. They cost little g 

 and save much bcird work. 



WHEEL HOES i 

 AND DRILLS! 



mHAQE 



ivill sow, cultivate, ridge, furrow, etc., better than you can S 

 ■with old-fashioned tools and ten times quicker. A woman, S 

 boy or girl can do it. Can plant cluser and work these hand s 

 tools while the horses rest. 38 combinations E 

 irom which to choose at $3.00 to $14. One a 

 combined tool will do all of the work. 3 

 your idealer to show them and S 

 rite us for booklet, **G:;rdening £ 

 With Madem Tools" and "Iron \ 

 Age Farm and Garden News" £ 

 both free. 5 



The Bateman- = 

 WilklnBon Co., | 

 , Limited / 



/462 8ymington| 

 ^AVog^oronto.Oan.l 





Peerless 

 Climax Fruit Baskets 



Heaviest, Strongest 

 and Best 



In the market. Especially 

 suitable for long distance 

 shipping. 



Protect your requirements by 

 ordering EARLY 



Canada 

 Wood Products Co. 



St. Thomas, Ont. 



WHITE & CO., Ltd. 



Church & Front Streets 



TORONTO ONT. 



As one of the largest and oldest commission houses on Front Street, we have a claim on your confi- 

 dence and favor possessed by few others, The two things — perhaps there are three — that mat- 

 ter to you are: (1) the reliability of the house you deal with; (2) the ability to sell consignment 

 quickly; and the third matter of importance is the ability of your commission agent to get top prices. 

 We are 100% efficient in regard to these three items. We can and 



Correspond with us first, if you wish. Ship 

 without waiting to write, if your matter is 

 urgent. Shipping Stamps and Market Re- 

 ports supplied on request. 



MAY 

 1915 



WILL SELL 

 YOUR FRUIT AND VEGETABLES. 



