@riqce Edward. 76

detafio

in the Island is 202,910; of peach trees, 163 ; of pear trees, 1,962; of plum trees, 27,480; of cherry trees, 70,431; of other fruit trees, 57,924; and of grape vines, 749. Vine- yards have almost disappeared from the Island. The yield of fruit trees in the last census year was 184,487 bushels, and in 1891 it was 60,325 bushels.

The yield of fruit for 1901 as compared with 1891 was as follows :

PRODUCT I 1891 1901 I

Apples .... ......... bush. 52,018 159,421 Peaches ............. “ 19 45 Pears ............... “ 71 279 Plums ............... “ 1,479 4,265 Cherries ....... . . .. “ 4.265 17,838 Grapes .............. “ 4,402 862 Other Fruits ......... “ 2,639 Small Fruits .......... pts‘. 150,590 Maple Sugar sot Syrup 1 .lbs. 1,009

The Dairying Industry.~0ne of the most important branches of agriculture is the dairying industry. Since 1891, when cooperative dairying was begun, there has been great improvement in this line. An experimental station for the manufacture of cheese, started in 1892 under the supervision of the Dominion Dairy Commissioner, was followed in the succeeding years by other factories ; all, with one exception, being on the cooperative principle, each company owning its building and plant. A dairymen’s association was organ- ized in 1898, and in the same year a dairy inspector was appointed,wh0 has been continued in office up to the present time. A cheese board was established in 1899, which has greatly facilitated the sale of cheese. A dairy school, for the instruction of the makers, was conducted in Charlottetown in the winters of 1902 and 1903. The industry was a suc- cess from the start, and both the number of factories and the production of cheese and butter increased from year to year.