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THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST 



Floral Edition. 



Standardizing the Apple 



Prof. T. G. Bunting, Macdonald College, Que. 



PR013LBMS c«mieot«d with the mairtcet- 

 ing of fruit are occupyinK the minds 

 of trult g'powers and th« Depa'Ttments 

 of AgTiculture as never before. The pro- 

 duction end of the b-usiness has ibeen glv«n 

 inost attention in the past, but growers are 

 now realizinig that it is necessary to de- 

 velop the .laieis end of the business if they 

 are to continue successful. 



Co-opeiration is doing much and will do 

 more In the future, 'but there is a phase 

 of Uie fruit busjmess that has noit heen given 

 the study that it sihould be given if co-oper- 

 ation Is to ibe finally isuccesisful on a large 

 scale in the fruit sections of Cajiada. This 

 phase is a question of varieties; too many 

 varieties have been planted in the past, 

 many of such inferior value that they have 

 affected the market adversely time and 

 again, and too many varieties are still be- 

 ing planted. Any leading nurseryman will 

 list in his catalogue from fifty to one hun- 

 dred and fifty varieties of apples. He does 

 this because he believes there is a demand 

 for them and, of course, he endeavors to 

 fill the demand. Nurserymen cannot dictate 

 to the growers how many varieties they 

 should plant, consequen,tly we cannot look 

 to them for any special guidance in this 

 matter. 



Co-operation in fruit growing v/ill not be 

 highly successful without standardization 

 of its product, and standardization of the 

 apple cannot be brought abo.ut without the 

 oommercial elimination of many of the 

 varieties now grown. By this one must 

 clearly understand what is meant. Differ- 

 ent varieties ajre necessary to cover the dif- 

 ferent seasons, for dessert and cooking pur- 

 poses, for shipping and for adaptation to 

 climatic and soil conditions in the different 

 fruit growing sections. It does not mean 

 that "one-hundred-and-one" varieties should 

 be grown, hut rather a few of the best that 

 have stood the test of years and that cover 

 the demands foir cooking and eating for the 

 various seasoOiS. 



Lack of deifinite knowledge has led fruit 

 growers to plant too many varieties in the 

 past, but the time has come for the fruit 

 growers to change this. They can do it 

 through the authoritative bodies of fruit 

 growers, such as the provincial associations, 

 in co-operation with the local associations 

 and co-operative societies. These associa- 

 tions have recommended from time to time 

 lists of varieties for planting, hut these lists 

 are even yet mneh too lengthy and could 

 with advantage 'be cut down to a minimum. 



Co-operative selling assoclatioas could 

 exert a great influence towards the stan- 

 dardization of the apple by refusing to ac- 

 cept for marketing varieties that are not 

 on the approved list, and in a short while 

 growers would either top-graft the unde- 

 sirable varieties or entirely replace them 

 by new orchards of the approved ones. 

 Such standardization of the apple would 

 lead to greater efficiency in the apple ad- 

 vertising campaigns of the future and with 

 fewer standard varieties much more infor- 

 mation could be given aibout their merits. 

 Few housewives (the housewives are really 

 the purchasers of the apple), know many of 

 the large number of varieties, their season, 

 their value for cooking or des(&ert and their 

 keeping qualities. Is it to be expected that 

 they should be familiar with any large per- 

 centage of them? Unless they do not, how 

 can they huy them Intelligently? 



Co-operation and standardization propei^ 

 erly organized on a comprehensive scale in 

 the chief apple sections of Canada would 

 largely eliminate tihe sale of fruit out of its 



season and that of ikkxt quality apples for 

 eating purposes. With an efficient stand- 

 dardization on a commercial basis the ques- 

 tion of apple advertising to increase con- 

 sumption would be largely solved, for the 

 puljiic could then be more intelligently in- 

 formed of the merits of the varieties as 

 they come In season, all of which is of vital 

 importance to the customer. 



Part of the success met with by the Pa- 

 cific Coast apple growers in marketing 

 their fruit is due to the fact that their 

 apples are standardized, which practically 

 means few vajrieties, a minimum number of 

 packs, and careful grading, so that every 

 apple in one box is of the same grade. If 

 this is the case with a box, why should it 

 not be with a barrel. 



Statl.stics show us that there has been 

 a large falling oft in the production of 

 apples In the I'nited States and Canada In 

 the last two decades without a correspond- 

 ing increase in prices. Other fruits have 

 largely taken the place of apples in the 

 market, and If the apple Is still to remain 

 the "King of Fruits," the apple growexB 

 must see that this position is not usurped 

 by some other fruit. 



An authoritative planting list of varieties 

 of apples would not necessarily lessen or 

 prevent the introduction and trial of new 

 varieties, but would largely prevent their 

 extensive planting for commercial pur- 

 poses untU they have been thoroughly 

 tested and proved their desirability. We 

 have an abundance of good varieties to se- 

 lect from and such an authoritative list put 

 into effect by the fruit grower.s' associa- 

 tions and co-operative societies should have 

 a marked effect on the future prospects of 

 the apple In Canada. 



Essentials of Marketing Fruit 



F. H. Grindley, Fruit Division, Ottawa 



T' 



• HERE has been much criticism made of 

 the methods in vogue for marketing 

 the fruit crop of Canada. Such criti- 

 cism has been largely merited. In order to 

 effect improvements there must be organized 

 effort. Lack of this has been one of the 

 greatest obstacles to progress. While every 

 fruit grower is willing to admit the faults of 

 our marketing systems, and while many 

 know just where improvements are most 

 needed, there are many who are unwilling 

 to carry their complaints or their knowledge 

 beyond their neighbors or beyond verbal 

 utterance. Consequently the big efforts to- 

 wards rectifying faults that have become 

 more urgent and troublesome, have devolved 

 upon a few individuals, and to them the 

 growers' thanks are due for most of the ad- 

 vantages we now possess. 



That many improvements must yet be 

 made we all admit, but during the duration 

 of the war, probably, many of them will not 

 be effected, therefore we must make the 

 most of the privileges we have. We must 

 find ways and means under existing condi- 

 tions of disposing of our crop at fair prices. 

 In order to do that we must create a demand, 

 a larger demand than ever before because 

 conditions at the consuming end are not 

 ordinary. 



There are a number of points that growers 

 should bear in mind before and during the 

 marketing season. In the first place we 

 should organize the distribution. There are 

 plenty of small towns and villages In Ontario 

 and other provinces that are inadequately 

 supplied with fruit, and many that are over- 

 stocked. That means faulty distribution. 

 This condition offers opportunities for the 

 wideawake grower or co-operative associa- 

 tion. 



Do not deal with firms or individuals un- 

 less you know their reputation. Avoid in- 

 discriminate consignment as much as pos- 

 sible. If you have no established trade con- 

 nections, make careful enquiries from some 

 reliable shipper and get in touch with a con- 

 signee whose honesty in business dealings 

 has been established. Communicate with 

 the provincial and federal departments of 

 agriculture, whose duty it is to keep in touch 

 with markets. They will be glad to assist. 



Try to create an early demand for your 

 product. This is a matter for organized 

 bodies to take up, just as the Niagara Pen- 

 insula growers have already done. Get to 

 the public through the press, or by any 

 other means. The Individual grower can 



probably do little, but small bodies can make 

 some impression and large organizations a 

 proportionately greater one. This year It is 

 essential that "Canadian Fruit" be constant- 

 ly before the public eye. The palates of the 

 people must be tickled. Do not be narrow 

 minded and think that by advertising you 

 are helping the other fellow. Why not? Try 

 to make 1915 a year of co-operation, of work- 

 ing in harmony for a common object — in- 

 creased home consumption. 



Plan for the future. Be careful that every- 

 thing you market is fit for consumption. 

 There is no promise of a regular steamship 

 service to Great Britain, and while satisfac- 

 tory arrangements may yet be made, we are 

 not assured that the usual amount of fruit 

 will be exported. With markets as they are 

 it is of the greatest importance that only the 

 best grades be packed. An Ontario shipper 

 had apples on the Toronto market on July 

 17, which were little larger than cherries, 

 and utterly unfit for food. Such practices 

 cannot be tolerated. Every possible effort 

 is being made to stop them. There are 

 strong reasons for believing that for the 

 higher grades of fruit there. will be a good 

 demand in the Old Country and in our own 

 markets. Whether transportation facilities 

 will be satisfactory remains to be seen. The 

 Fruit Branch at Ottawa will keep in close 

 touch with the steamship companies and be 

 prepared to advise shippers as to dates of 

 sailings, and rates. 



The three features mentioned are the most 

 important — distribution, advertising and 

 proper packing. With them in mind, the 

 growers ought to succeed in selling their 

 fruit at good prices. The market for early 

 fruits has been satisfactory. There is no 

 reason why such a condition should not ex- 

 tend over the season for later fruits. Be 

 optimistic. If each of us will do our share 

 towards bringing about a common result, 

 the success of our united efforts is assured. 



Prospects for Marketing Fruit 



Already Canadian fruit growers are becom- 

 ing anxious as to the likelihood of disposing 

 of their crops this year at satisfactory prices. 

 There will be a fair crop of practically all 

 varieties of fruit, and the growers are ap- 

 parently keeping in mind the panic which 

 followed the outbreak of war last summer, 

 when shipping facilities to the Old Country 

 markets were temporarily demoralized, and 

 when a considerable quantity of Canadian 



