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able freight rates can be obtained fi-om our public carriers. At the present time 

 the rates for certain goods, fruit especially, is exorbitant, even when obtained at 

 privileged points; but at other places, where there are no competing lines, the rates 

 charged for the same class of goods is positively prohibitory. I will mention one 

 case. The express rate last summer on a certain kind of fruit from Toronto to 

 Portage la Prairie, and also from Grimsby to Portage la Prairie, was §3.25 per 100 

 lbs.; while from Lindsay, even after the agent had kindly obtained a specially 

 reduced rate, it was $6.75 per 100 lbs. 



The hope of the grape-grower is therefore in the establishment of wine-making 

 at central points on a large scale, so that the whole crop may be sold at oncfe in 

 bulk foi^cash. If this were done grape culture M'ould advance in extent unequalled 

 by any other branch of horticulture, and the thousands upon thousands of acres of 

 land unexcelled for grape culture in the world, which are to-day nearly worthless, 

 would in afewyears become more valuable than the best wheat lands in the Province 

 are at present. 



One of the largest grape-growers for dessert purposes in Ontario was told a 

 year or two ago that a compauy was about to be established in his locality for the 

 making of wine on a large scale ; and in order to secure a sufficiency of fruit the 

 company would require a number of persons in that locality to contract with the 

 company to plant, to cultivate and to sell to the company all the fruit for twenty 

 years, the company binding itself to purchase the whole crop in bulk for the 

 twenty years at a price not less than 1 cent, per pound, and was then asked what he 

 would do in the matter. His answer was : " if 1 can be assured of the solvency of the 

 company, and of its ability to fulfil its part of the contract, I will plant 100 acres of 

 grapes next sjjring on the conditions mentioned."' I quote this as a proof of what 

 grapes can be grown for, and also to show what this expert as well as hundreds of 

 other persons, would gladly do. 



Here, then, is an opportunity for the profitable investment of capital such as does 

 not often occur. The raw material can be obtained in abundance and at a price as low 

 as can be desired. The cost of manufacturing is small in proportion to the capital 

 invested, and the market for the manufactured article unlimited, and also with a 

 certainty that the profits will be all that any person could reasonably ask, with a 

 certainty of their continuance for generations to come. 



Mr. Pettit. — I quite agree with the remai-ks made by 3Ir. Beall in his paper 

 in regard to the large area of country in Ontario suitable for grape-growing. It 

 covers a far greater extent of countiy than many of us imagine. In replies which I 

 have received when asking for information in order to prepare a paper on grape 

 growing in southern Ontario, I was really surprised to find the large tracts of 

 country where the climate and soil are suitable for this industry, and I believe that the 

 wine-growing industry of Ontario has a great future before it. I believe that when 

 prejudice can be driven from the minds of our people that the thousands of dollars 

 which is now paid annually to foreign countries for their wines will be kept within 

 the Dominion. There have been so many new and early varieties, and hardy 

 varieties, that the territory for grape-growing is almost unlimited. 



Mr. Kew. — I do not pretend to be a grape grower, but I cannot help agreeing 

 with remarks made as regards the profits which may be derived from grape-growing. 

 Mr. Beall made a statement that a cent a pound profit would suffice. I heard a 

 statement made at the convention at Grimsby a few years ago, and it was laughed 

 at by a great many. I thought at that time that we could not grow grapes for less 

 than 5 cents a pound. Since grapes have come down in price to an average 

 of 4 cents for Concords, taking the crop all through— sometimes^they come down to 

 3 and 2 cents — surely there must be profit in the vineyards when so many are being 

 planted In California, a country we hear so much about, anc^Where the conditions 

 are so favourable to fruit growing, they are still planting graphs and growing them. 

 They plant and grow them under a different system th^;'we ^o here, but they 

 cannot grow more to the acre than we do. They feel well satisfied and are making 

 •1 ffood fair profit when they can get from haK to three,. q^uarter cents a pound. 



