FRUIT PRODUCTION OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE. 101 



Acreage of Orchards and Vineyards in the British Empire [continued). 



Acres. 



Brought forward ....... 4,,972,730 



New South Wales (1908-9) 51,868 



South Australia (1907-8) 41,816 



New Zealand (1908-9) 29,217 



Queensland (1908-9) . . . . . . . . 25,334 



Tasmania (1908-9) . ....... 25,146 



British Columbia (1905) 22,000 



West Australia (1908-9) . 18,049 



Natal (1905) 37,590 



Ceylon 1,016,138 



Jamaica 63,029 



Total acreage . . . . . . 6,302,917 



Canada. 



Canada, in 1901, the last year for which rehable statistics are 

 obtainable, produced: — 



Apples 18,626,186 bushels. 



Peaches 545,415 



Pears . 531,837 



Plums 557,875 



Cherries ........ 336,751 ,, 



Other fruits . . 70,396 



Grapes 24,302,634 lbs. 



Small fruits 21,707,791 quarts. 



Since that year the acreage under fruit has been much extended, and 

 the production considerably increased. 



Although in the fruit-growing provinces of Canada all hardy fruits, 

 such as plums, apricots, cherries, and strawberries, are largely grown 

 and justly esteemed, yet it must be conceded that it is as an apple- 

 producing country that the Dominion is best known. When it is re- 

 collected that apple trees were introduced there prior to 1663, and that 

 the modem orchards of the Annapolis and Cornwallis valleys were 

 founded at the latter part of the eighteenth century, it is not surprising 

 that the production at the present time has reached such enormous 

 proportions and the export trade attained such importance. Ontario 

 alone has an annual average value of the industry of over seven and a 

 half million dollars. Nova Scotia's output of apples alone reaches 

 half a million barrels. British Colurnbia, which ten years ago did not 

 produce sufficient for its own needs, is now exporting, and has an 

 average value in fruit produced exceeding one million dollars. I regret 

 that it is not possible to furnish full and uniform statistics as to the 

 export of fruit, but the figures and returns of the output for 1901 (the 

 latest available), viz. 20,668,460 bushels and 24,332,634 lb., are 

 eloquent of what has been and is being accomplished in Canada. The 

 nearness of the English market and the fact that the voyage being very 

 temperate and short obviates the necessity for the fruit to be placed 

 in cool stores on board, is a great asset to the grower and shipper, 



