57 



Mr. Wright. — How does the Yellow Transparent compare with the Eed 

 Astrachan ? 



Mr. Bbodie. — ^I began selling the Yellow Transparent in the last week in July. 



Mr. Shepherd — I could never understand how the Yellow Transparent got the 

 reputation of being an extremely early fruit. I never saw one on the 28th July fit 

 to be sent to market at that time. 



Mr. Brodie — Tney are early, like the Eed Astrachan. There is a demand for 

 coouing apples at that season, and they seem to meet the demand. When we get $5 

 a barrel for them I think that is a pretty good test. 



Mr. Henry — With regard to the Switzer, it is quite as hardy a tree as the 

 Yellow Transparent; its season is late in the fall, and the appearance of the apple is 

 a beautiful one. It has a freshness about it, and it is quite solid. 



Mr. Harrison — With regard to the possibility of Eussian fruits in the E"orth- 

 West, unfortunately I have not been able to verify my opinion, but I have heard on 

 reliable authority from several sources that there is near Pilot IButte a small planta- 

 tion of Eussian apples which have been bearing fruit regularly for several years. I 

 know that in our neighbourhood there are two or three apple trees which have been 

 planted, and I think it is simply owing to the bad cultivation that they have been 

 cut down j^ear after year. If they had been properly planted and treated I see no 

 reason whatever why they should not do as well as the apples at Pilot Butte. 



The Convention took recess until afternoon. 



Thursday Afternoon. 



The President. — Before asking for the papers this afternoon, thei'e are one or 

 two other matters that call for our attention. A question has been presented which 

 it is desired should be answered, so that the parties asking it should obtain an 

 authoritative decision jjro or con on this point. The question is one that has been 

 frequently asked and involves a matter of import duty. It is : " What are toma- 

 toes-fruit or vegetables ? " There are two points of view from which we can regard 

 that question. Scientifically speaking, the tomatoe is a fruit. There is no doubt 

 about that. Commercially speaking, however, the tomatoe is usually regarded as a 

 vegetable. The question is, of course, being asked by the President of the Canadian 

 Canned Goods Association just where the line is to be drawn. They would like very 

 much to have tomatoes classed as fruit; but I will ask for some expression of 

 opinion, and we may enter it upon our records as an authoritative decision. 



Mr. W. Boulter, Picton, Ont. — As the one who asked that question, I may say 

 that we, as packers, feel it would be a good time at this convention of Dominion 

 Pruit Growers' to definitely decide upon this matter. As you have justly stated, this 

 matter aifects us very much with relation to the tariff. The question has also been 

 asked with respect to apples: Is an apple really a fruit all through, when it is 

 picked or when it has gone through the hermetically sealed process, as in canning 

 fruits ? The tomatoe has always been looked upon at first thought as a fruit. Com- 

 mercially, as you stated, would it be changed by any process that it may be sub- 

 mitted to in the ordinary hermetically sealing method. This association, composed 

 as it is of the leading fruit growers of Canada, and one that we should look up to 

 with a certain degree of respect, may properly be appealed to on this question. Our 

 interests are identical, and I should like this association to come to a definite con- 

 clusion. As many of you know, we are interested here in regard to the operations 

 of the present tariff. We, as packers, are interested in that matter as well, and if this 

 association should decide that the tomatoe is different from what has been sup- 

 Dosed it would make a material difference with regard to the effect of the tariff upon 

 our business. 



Mr. Starr. — This question came up. before the Nova Scotia Fruit Gj'owers' 

 Association a few years ago, in connection with our fair, and the decision then 

 arrived at satisfied some of the exhibitors. The decision was to class as fruit such 

 of the family as tomatoes, melons and cucumbers as were eaten raw. It was a line 

 drawn ou that basis, to class as fruits such as were placed on the table. 



