69 



jpArent wliich are ready to openj and dust the pollen over the })istils. 

 Cover the flower with a clcse dtting paper bag, wliich is left on four or 

 five days so as to leave tto chance for fertilization by wind or insects. 

 Gauze bags are then placed over the young fruit, and retained there 

 until the fruit ripens. The seed is then carefully washed out and^ 

 planted, and every seedling produces some fruit, possibly each one dif- 

 ferent. Perhajjs only one in a thousand will produce a good hardy variety j 

 but one such occasionally amply repays for the trouble, and no limit 

 can be definitely placed in this line of research, time aloae can tell 

 what can be done in that direction. The past and present seasons 

 were both very dry, and the fruit trees and vines did not present sc 

 good an aj^peai-ance as he would have desired. 



Mr. James Fletcher was then called upon to say a few wordSw 

 He was particularly engaged, in connection with his office at the farm, 

 in entomological and botanical researches. Whilst, for accuracy's sake , 

 the scientific aspect of the question was never lost sight of, he hoped 

 to be able to show that the work done was pre-eminently of an economic 

 nature. Besides the numerous problems of great interest to the 

 student of nature, the practical requirements of a great country with 

 agricultural capabilities such as Canada possessed, were the first to 

 engage the attention. Science now-a-days no longer meant theory and 

 speculation, but that word should be taken in its true sense as synony- 

 mous with knowledge. Whilst his researches in plant and insect life 

 were closely related to each other in many respects, in some points 

 tliey were quite different. An area of 65 acres had been appropriated 

 on the farm for the purpose of laying out a Botanical Garden. This 

 vrould be an object of special interest to the members of the club. He 

 hojied by next year to have some work done on it to show scientific 

 visitors. The land was being prepared and material was being 

 gathered together. Large collections of seeds and plants had 

 been sent to the Experimental Farm from all parts of tlie world, 

 including many excellent things Avhich would be of use in many parts 

 of this country. Collections of young forest trees had been received 

 and planted, France and Russia having contributed a large number, last 

 autumn he had collected and had jjlanted vast numbers of seeds of our 

 most useful native trees. It was already necessary to replace 



