AGRICULTURE

T O P S Y From the time of the introduction of potato growing on a

large scale in P.E.I. some half century ago the Carleton district has been- in the forefront in the development of this industry.

It was in Augustine Cove that the late John B., and Edward MacFadyen pioneered in the early stages of the potato industry and much of our success as a potato growing province can be at- tributed to their early efforts in its promotion.

Transportation was one of the great problems of those ear- ly days there being no trucks etc., to transport the products and all hauling had to be done by horse drawn vehicles to the nearest rail centres which at that time was Cape Traverse or Albany or to the nearest port which was Victoria and both the rail and wat- er outlets were very inadequate to handle large quantities. Un— der these conditions farmers were very much handicapped and it was not until the inauguration of the ferry service at Borden in 1917 and the widening of the railway gauge that the industry in P.E.I. as a whole expanded to its present day proportions.

Due to the foresight of the early promotors, the initiative of the farmers and the suitability of the soil this area soon became a very important centre in the potato industry.

When the rail lines were laid to Borden and the terminal at Cape Traverse removed it became evident to all concerned that a siding or station should be established at Carleton as this would serve a very largearea much more conveniently than the existing stations at Albany and Borden. The railway recognized this need and about 1920 Carleton Siding was built. The foresight of this has been established as the business here has grown from the original five car spur to one of fifteen car capacity and a peak shipping season event this is sometimes inadequate.

To handle potatoes efficiently potato warehouses are neces- sary and the late J. Herbert Lord was the first to erect a small warehouse along the track. This in later years was enlarged and has since been replaced by a much larger building which is now occupied by his son A.K. Lord along with his son in law, Lloyd Ramsay who carry on an extensive business under the firm name of Lord and Ramsay. The next warehouse to be built was erect- ed by the late Edward and John B. MacFadyen as a storage for

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