88 The Commercial Apple Industry 



50 per cent of the orchards depending almost solely on 

 commercial fertilizers. 



For many years Nova Scotia has shipped her surplus 

 crop to Great Britain, principally to London. Her ship- 

 pers are particularly well situated to take advantage of 

 this trade as they are all within a few hours of the ports 

 of Halifax and St. John. 



The chief disadvantage of the district is its comparative 

 isolation from the large home markets. In order to com- 

 pete with Ontario fruit on the large consuming markets of 

 the northwestern provinces, Nova Scotian shippers start 

 with a handicap of a rail haul of over twenty-four hours. 

 With the European market open, this is not serious inas- 

 much as this market is capable of some extension. 



Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick. 



Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick do not grow 

 enough apples for home consumption at the present time. 

 Both these provinces, however, possess large areas with a 

 soil and climate well adapted to the commercial production 

 of the hardier varieties. Prince Edward Island has suf- 

 fered in the past from the poor transportation between the 

 island and the mainland but this has improved of late, 

 and the apple industry should consequently be encouraged. 



The St. John Valley of New Brunswick has excellent 

 prospects as a commercial apple-growing district, and it is 

 probable that the next ten years will show a very marked 

 increase in the production in this province, which during 

 the past decade ranged from 75,000 to 100,000 barrels. 

 Fairly low temperatures are experienced in the winter, 

 and the leading varieties are the Duchess, Fameuse, Alex- 



