45 



Mixed Cars Wanted. 



Mr. Plunkett of Messrs. Plunkett and Savage, on the other hand, stated 

 that his firm had handled a number of cars of Ontario grapes this year, and 

 believes that mixed cars consisting of apples, pears, tomatoes and various lines 

 of vegetables that will stand carriage, should find a ready market in Calgary. 

 The Greening apple is not in favour in this market, people preferring a red apple, 

 and the box package is very much more desirable than the barrel. One of the 

 advantages that the fruit from the State of Washington has over Canadian 

 fruit is the fact that it ripens earlier in the season and deliveries can conse- 

 quently be made much earlier, thus avoiding danger from frost. Dealers in 

 the small towns are desirous of getting their fruit in good season, in order that 

 their customers may be supplied before the cold weather comes on. Mr. 

 Plunkett considered that the packing and grading of fruit from the south was 

 generally better than that from either British Columbia or Ontario. 



British Columbia Fruit Depot. 



Mr. S. J. Fee, manager of the Calgary branch of the Vernon Fruit Company, 

 established a business in Calgary with the object of increasing the sale of British 

 Columbia fruit. So far Mr. Fee's efforts in this respect have met with success, 

 and everywhere in the west shippers speak in favourable terms of his endeavour 

 on their behalf. Mr. Fee considers it very necessary that very material improve- 

 ments should be made in the conditions for the handling and transporting of 

 fruit from both Ontario and British Columbia to the central prairie markets, 

 and believes that just as soon as these improvements can be effected, an enormous 

 trade will be developed. At the present time the prices to the consumers are 

 exorbitant, and tend very much to restrict trade, while the grower, owing to 

 the cost of transportation and the difficulty of placing his product on the market, 

 is not receiving adequate returns for his labour. 



BRITISH COLUMBIA. 



Revelstoke. 



Entering British Columbia, our first stop was at the town of Revelstoke, 

 the gateway to the Arrow Lakes district. Here we met Mr. Bruce Lawson, 

 city clerk, who owns a fruit plantation in the vicinity of the town. He stated 

 that the summer apples did well in this locality, but he is now planting chiefly 

 Wealthy, Mcintosh Red and Alexander, with a few cherries and plums. He 

 considers the land adjacent to the town exceptionally suitable for small fruits, 

 strawberries, raspberries, red and black currants growing almost to perfection. 

 Owing to location on the main line, the shipping facilities are good. He believes 

 this point presents favourable opportunities for considerable extension in the 

 production of nearly all kinds of hardy fruits. 



Nakusp. 



From Revelstoke a trip was made down the Arrow Lakes as far as the 

 town of Nakusp. At this place, at the Needles and at several other points 

 along these lakes considerable effort has been put forth to establish fruitgrowing. 



Until a few years ago the land at Nakusp suitable for the production of 

 fruit, had been held intact by the Canadian Pacific Railway and was not avail- 

 able for settlement, but since this valley has been thrown open to the public 

 considerable activity has taken place throughout this section. 



