PROCEEDINGS OF THE WINTER MEETING. 93 



ings or otherwise interest the people and solicit new membership. For 

 this work he received thirty per cent, of membership fees he collected. 



The provincial government has also done much to develop the agricul- 

 tural interests of all the provinces. 



The Hon. John Drydeu, minister of agriculture, was present, and in 

 the course of his remarks said of the association: "You now occupy a 

 more prominent position in the minds of the people than at any time in 

 your past history. I am glad that such is the case. Just now, in the 

 depressed condition of many departments of agriculture, there is no 

 branch that is more attractive or presents greater possibilities than that 

 of fruitgrowing. It has become clear that certain portions of this prov- 

 ince are peculiarly fitted for production of the finest fruit. Some localities 

 are especially adapted to plums; others, not being equally good in this 

 direction, are admirably adapted to the production of the finest quality 

 of apples, while in almost every section small fruits grow in the greatest 

 luxuriance. The first thing needed by those starting in this industry is 

 definite and accurate information. Naturally they look to an association 

 of this kind, in whose ranks are found the oldest and most experienced 

 fruitgrowers, to supply this need. May I remind you that it is in order 

 that you may be conditioned to accomplish this, that the legislature gives 

 you your annual grant? It is not merely that you may help each other, 

 which is in itself commendable, but that through you the masses of our 

 farmers may be educated along this line." 



Prof. Saunders, in charge of all of the experimental stations in the 

 dominion, gave a brief synopsis of his work at each of the five main 

 stations. The central is at Ottawa; the eastern at Nappan, N. S.; one at 

 Brandon, Manitoba; one at Indian Head, Northwest Territory, and one at 

 Agassiz, British Columbia. Much of Prof. Saunders' address was of detail 

 character, therefore intensely interesting to the delegates. At the farm 

 at Nappan there are under test 288 varieties of large fruits, 75 of small 

 fruits, and 279 of ornamental trees and shrubs. Fruits which have been 

 regarded as impossible to grow in this climate have been successfully 

 cultivated and a trade in them made profitable. At the farm at Ottawa 

 there are now under test 788 varieties of large fruits and 604 of small 

 fruits. At Brandon no success had been met as yet with the larger 

 fruits, although 241 varieties had been tried. Small fruits had done well. 

 At Indian Head several of the most hardy crabs had been tried but 

 without success. Only a few varieties of sand cherry, and as yet none of 

 the native plums, have been successful. Currants, gooseberries, raspber- 

 ries, and strawberries, all yield abundant crops when not too dry. Of the 

 trees, box elder does best. Mr. Saunders has hopes for all kinds of fruit 

 at Agassiz. He exhibited fine specimens of Cranberry pippin grown at 

 that station. Prof. Saunders has done a great work at these stations in 

 the development of fruitgrowing in high northern latitudes. He has 

 demonstrated for us that some varieties of the larger fruits, and most 

 varieties of the small fruits, will succeed in a climate as severe as any 

 portion of this state, the upper peninsula not excepted. 



He is so earnest in this work that I should not be surprised at any time 

 to hear that he had started an experiment farm over in the Yukon valley 

 or on the south shore of Hudson bay. 



