44 

 Ontario Grapes Wanted. 



This firm had sold a number of cars of Ontario grapes during the past 

 season which, with one exception, had arrived in good condition and found a 

 ready market at from 40 to 50 cents for six quart baskets. They would recom- 

 mend, however, that grapes for this market be packed in smaller packages, 

 and considered that the four pound package would be satisfactory for the trade. 

 It was a somewhat difficult matter to handle the more tender fruits from Ontario, 

 but apples, pears, grapes and tomatoes, under favourable conditions, should 

 arrive in good order and do well. 



The Royal Fruit Company was also interviewed. Mr. Brown of this firm 

 stated that the majority of the fruit that they had received from the east this 

 year had arrived in good condition and given satisfaction. They considered, 

 however, that the rates of transportation were too high, and that better despatch 

 with lower rates were necessary if the trade was to be encouraged. 



Freight Rates Excessive. 



The rates charged by the Canadian Pacific and other railways over the 

 prairie section of the road are excessive and quite out of proportion — distance 

 being considered — with the rates prevailing in the eastern division. Steps 

 should be taken to have these rates adjusted and put on a more satisfactory 

 basis. 



Strawberries Successful. 



Mr. F. T. Fisher, President of the Edmonton Board of Trade, believes 

 that in time some of the hardy varieties of apples, plums and cherries will be 

 successfully grown in this vicinity, although up to the present no attempts 

 have been made to grow these fruits. The small fruits, particularly strawberries, 

 as far as they have been tested, have proved very successful and profitable, and 

 at the present time there is an excellent opening for increased plantings of this 

 class of fruit. The vicinity of Edmonton does not suffer from spring fr6sts 

 or summer drouth as is the case in Southern Manitoba. It is safe, nine years 

 out of ten, to plant vegetables on the first day of May and there are no frosts 

 until the middle of September in an ordinary year. Once the ground is thawed 

 out in the spring there is little danger of subsequent frosts and consequently 

 the risks in this respect are reduced to a minimum. Mr. Fisher believes that 

 a Dominion Experimental Farm at or near Edmonton would be very desirable, 

 as the conditions obtaining at Lacombe are very different to those in the terri- 

 tory surrounding Edmonton. If it could be shown that fruitgrowing was 

 commercially a possibility, farmers in this district might be induced to endeavour 

 to grow at least a sufficient quantity to supply the local demand. 



Leaving Edmonton, our next stop was Calgary, on the main line of the 

 C. P. R., some 200 miles south of Edmonton, where the wholesale trade was 

 interviewed, the first call being upon the MacPherson Fruit Company. In 

 the absence of the manager Mr. Morrison, the chief accountant Mr. Folkins, 

 kindly vouchsafed information in reference to the conditions obtaining in this 

 city. This firm during the past year has been compelled to confine its trade 

 largely to the handling of fruit from south of the line, chiefly on account of the 

 unsatisfactory manner in which fruit from Eastern Canada has been received. 

 Over 100 cars of Washington State apples had been received and distributed 

 during the past month, while they have not handled a single carload of Ontario 

 fruit during the year. With the large extension of orcharding in British Colum- 

 bia he believes that if proper methods were adopted this trade could be largely 

 controlled by shippers from the western province. 



