146 



cheese trains, to the seaboard, as being most desirable in the interests of the fruit- 

 growers and shippers ; also, that only ventilated cars, with improved springs and 

 buflfers, be used on these trains. 



3. That a regular committee on transportation be appointed to confer with the 

 proper authorities of the express companies and the Canadian Pacific Railway to 

 make arrangements for shipping fruit to Manitoba and the Territories, both trom 

 British Columbia and the Eastern Provinces, at 'ower rates than now prevail. That, 

 in the opinion of this Convention the rates are so high as to practically prohibit a 

 proper development of the fruit trade in those Provinces. 



4. That if the proper facilities and accommodation in transit be provided for 

 fruits, the possibility of extending the trade in our products with Europe is prac- 

 tically unlimited 



That the over-production of some varieties of fruit, notably out-door grapes, 

 calls for more extended markets; and our Canadian markets being glutted, there is 

 nothing to induce the increase of grape culture. 



At present the grape-consuming population of Britain is limited to those who 

 can afford hot-house grapes at a high price; and inasmuch as out-door grapes 

 are not grown in Britain, an opening is offered there for an enormous trade. 

 The same would apply to our melons, which are much higher in flavour than the 

 hot-house melons of Britain, and hence would command higher prices in their 

 markets. Our tomatoes also are larger, better in flavour and brighter coloui-ed 

 than those grown in Britain, and therefore, we are convinced, would take a lead in 

 their markets. In case of a short crop in Europe of .plums, pears and peaches, the 

 accommodation asked would present an opportunity whereby we would be enabled 

 to take advantage of the British markets. 



5. That in the interest of growers and shippers of fruit from Canada to Europe 

 it is imperative, tor the greater development of the trade, in order that delicate 

 apples and othei- fruits may be successfully placed upon the European maikets, that 

 steamship companies provide clean and well ventilated compartments, equipped 

 with atmospheric blasts, for the preservation of fruit in transit; and we would 

 further recommend that greater care be exercised in the handling of fruit packages 

 in transhipment and deliverj'. 



The President. — J think, perhaps, the best way to deal with these reports is to 

 consider the resolutions in detail, and then we can adopt them or not. 



First resolution was carried. 



Second resolution was carried. 



Third I'esolution was carried. 



Fourth resolution was cari'ied. 



On the fifth resolution, with reference to ocean transport: 



Mr. Stauratt.- — Our great difiiculty has been in the transj)ortation of our fruit. 

 My locality is Annapolis, which is a shipping port, and unless we get a steamer at 

 Annapolis we are compelled to transport our apples over the railway to the port of 

 Halifax, and we cannot have an oversight as to handling them, and the consequence 

 is that they are put upon the English market in a bad condition. Now, if an 

 arrangement can be made with steamboat owners, or with some central authority, 

 by which we can get the steamers fitted up as fruit-carrying steamers, I think such 

 an arrangement would be of almost incalculable benefit to the fruit- 

 growers of the Lower Provinces as well as here. We know that putting 

 seven, or eight, or ten, or fourteen thousand barrels of apples in the hold of a ship, 

 that notwithstanding the ventilation, the consequence is they must be destroyed to 

 a greater or lesser extent, and my ow«i observation has led me to the conclusion that 

 the shippers of fruit to Great Britain have been grievously imposed upon and 

 injured, not only by the improper ventilation of the ship which carried the 

 fruit, but also by the careless manner in which their employees handle the barrels in 

 moving them round. E"ow, I have had some experience in shipping aj)ples to 

 England, and I have watched chem, and others have watched them, and the com- 

 plaint was that when the fruit was put upon the market in London or Liverpool it 



