MORE INSTANCES OF THE IMPORTANCE OF SUPERIOR PRODUCTS - EVAPORATING AND ITS ADVANTAGES TO THE PRODUCER - SOME SUGGESTIONS WORTHY OF CONSIDERATION.

Third Paper.

IF PROGRESS in this nineteenth century there is no end. Progress marks every movement, and though tillers of the soil have in the past been charged with having less of the spirit of "push" than any other class of people, it is interesting to note that they are becoming less deserving of this unenviable, though perhaps deserved, distinction as the years go by.

The world has every reason to believe that the horticulturist of to-day is as far ahead of his brother of 25 years ago, as the latter was in advance of the primitive workers of old colonial days. This evolution has not been sudden, but was a slow process, weighed well and considered long before being adopted. Competition had a hand in the struggle, and to this powerful enemy (?) of production and friend (?) of consumption more than one land worker owes his salvation in his chosen work. It has opened the eyes of our horticulturists to the absolute necessity for energetic, progressive moves should they wish to hold their own with other workers in the field.

The deeper we go into the question of canning and preserving as one means of consuming the produce of orchard and garden, the more apparent seems the necessity for a stronger combination between the two branches. Each has an opportunity to better his condition by educating the public, or that portion of them who are consumers of these products, to a desire for better goods of the same kinds. This does not seem to us an impossible undertaking; we have but to base our reasoning on the events of the past to give color to the position we now take. In any community the best is usually the cheapest in the end for the consumer ; this will be granted without argument. Again, in the strong tide of competition, is it not the business operator who places the best goods on the market at a fair price that soon towers above his competitors ? This needs no argument. Our correspondents among the canners and preservers seem to understand this thoroughly, for scarcely without exception, in reply to our question, "Would the production of a superior quality of fruits and vegetables enable you to pay a price sufficiently in advance of the present one to warrant the grower in making the effort ?" they have emphasized their affirmative reply.

As an additional support to the position taken in favor of the production of better fruits and vegetables, we may say that the commercial standing of the establishments with whom we have corresponded and whose prices to the producer were highest, rank better than some of the others. This may be chance to some extent, but when we look further into the matter and find that the goods these people put on the market are of superior quality, is it not reasonable to presume that at least some portion of their financial standing is due to the quality of their goods ?

Canning, preserving and evaporating requires capital, suitable location, and a knowledge of the work, to successfully carry on the business. A "plant" which is complete and of such a nature that it can capably handle the products brought to it, no matter what quantities within reason, must of necessity be large and expensive.

Take for example the canning factory of £. C. Hazard & Co., of which we made mention in our first paper; the average number of people employed at this establishment is from 160 to 175, and, from what was given us as the average wages of a young woman of 18, we should judge that $8 a week per person was a fair average of the price paid for labor. Then there are the various pieces of machinery, many of them imported and, from their peculiar construction, expensive. To these large items we may add the thousand and one smaller expenses. In this connection it must also be remembered that having contracted for the products from a stated area, these manufacturers are bound to abide by their side of the contract, provided the other party thereto carries out his agreement.

These facts are but to show that the business requires capital in no mean proportion, and that considering the expenses they are under the price paid the producer is a fair one; and yet, as has been noted, almost without exception these men are willing to pay a higher price for a better article.

Under these circumstances we feel warranted in holding to the opinion expressed, that under ordinary conditions, with the average market on the one hand, and the canner, preserver or evaporator on the other, the chances for profit to the grower are greater by growing for these establishments than in taking the risks of the ordinary markets.

One of our correspondents writes that contracts are frequently made which allow the grower to dispose of the first of his crops at the regular markets while the prices are higher than the contract price with the manufacturer. We do not know whether this may be called a concession on the part of the canner; it may be that at the proper time for taking the earlier crops his establishment cannot handle them, or, circumstances may be such that in order to make any arrangement with the producer he must make the stipulation noted above.

It is interesting to note the replies given by various correspondents to questions 4 and 5 :

4. What advantages, if any, accrue to the grower by reason of the location of your establishment in his vicinity ?

5. Does he appreciate these advantages ?

Here are a few of the replies:

4. They enable him to find a ready market at home for a quality of fruit that used to go to the cider mill for a few cents, but now brings a paying price.

5. No.

4. They save transportation charges, commissions and do away with the damage to crate, etc.

5. Some do.

4. Short haul and sure markets for all grades.

5. No.

4. Convenience of a new market and the consequent saving of transportation charges.

5. Yes.

4. 25 to 50 per cent, increase in the net profit to the grower.

5. Doubtful.

4. They have the benefit of the varied experiences of the canner, keep better posted, take more horticultural and agricultural papers and are a more live set of men than in other districts.

5. As a rule they do not.

It is well to explain that these correspondents are from different sections of the country; some of them are located with their buildings in regions remote from good markets, and therefore the advantages to the grower are greater than in other localities.

This subject has been treated in detail so far as it is connected with the manufacturers; we have tried to handle the question impartially. In a future paper, we propose to continue this subject, taking the growers side of the question. We invite the readers who are interested in the subject in any way, and especially if their experience does not coincide with what has already been written, to send us a brief letter of facts in this connection.

[to be continued].