43 



This point cannot be emphasized too strongly, that it is absolutely useless 

 and suicidal for any shipper to expect to establish a trade in long distance ship- 

 ments, without first taking the trouble to ascertain the class of fruit in demand 

 in any given market, and then acquainting himself with the best practice, both 

 in grading and packing, so that his product may reach, the dealers' hands in 

 reasonably good condition and be of attractive appearance. 



Nova Scotia Box Fruit in Good Condition. 



A visit was paid to several of the retail stores, in one of which we found a 

 very fine lot of Nova Scotia Gravensteins in boxes, which were well packed, of 

 good colour, and attractive in every way, selling readily for $2 per box. In 

 the fruit department of the T. Eaton Company's large departmental store, we 

 found No. 1 Wealthy apples from the State of Washington selling retail at $2.25 

 per box, No. 1 Ontario Greenings $5, No. 1 Baldwins $5.50 and No. 1 Northern 

 Spies S(i per barrel. These apples were all apparently packed in accordance 

 with the Act and were giving satisfaction to the firm and to its customers. 



Poor Fruit Entails a Loss. 



In another retail fruit house in this city we found a large quantity of unat- 

 tractive, poorly packed and graded fruit, both in boxes and barrels. Some of this 

 at one time had been fine fruit, but by over-pressing nearly every specimen in 

 the barrels had been ruined. Other barrels contained considerable quantities 

 of fruit that should not have been packed for shipment at all, but ought to have 

 found its way to the evaporator or the cider mill. This stuff was being slowly 

 worked off at the best prices obtainable, and would not likely bring any profit 

 to the shipper. 



Saskatoon. 



Leaving Winnipeg, the next stop was Saskatoon. This place, owing to 

 the rapid increase in the population within the last two or three years, is becoming 

 an important centre for the distribution of fruit. Quite a number of cars, of 

 both Ontario and Nova Scotia fruit, were received here and disposed of to fairly 

 good advantage. This city will be prepared to absorb increasing quantities 

 from year to year. 



Edmonton. 



Passing on to Edmonton, a day was spent in this important city, which 

 is the distributing point for a very large territory. Here we saw Nova Scotia 

 Gravensteins from the orchard of Mr. F. A. Parker at Berwick. Several barrels 

 of this stock were opened and found to be well packed and in fine condition. 

 Mr. Anderson, the shipper for the Brown Fruit Company, stated that this was 

 a most excellent car, and was selling readily at $5.50 per barrel. 



Dempsey's Snows and Kings. 



This firm had also in stock a car of Ontario Kings and Snows from Messrs. 

 P. C. Dempsey and Son of Trenton. These were of excellent quality and were 

 selling wholesale at $8 per barrel and we also found them at retail on Jasper 

 Avenue at §9 per barrel. Here was conclusive evidence of the value of quality 

 and care in packing stock of this character, which was realizing the shipper 

 excellent returns and giving satisfaction to all parties concerned in the handling 

 of it. 



