peach crop also, and in many sections the plum and cherry. Pears have been a medium 
crop, and the grape crop simply enormous, yielding five to six tons to the acre and some 
varieties even as high as eight to ten tons. Small fruits have been a fair crop and all 
kinds of fruit have brought good prices. On the whole, fruit growers have been as suc- 
cessful as any other class of agriculturists. I think, however, that this season will 
demonstrate the fact that it is not wise for those whose only income is from fruit, to 
depend altogether upon one kind. ‘ Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket.” Many 
an orzhardist, who has depended solely upon his apples or peaches this past year, finds 
himself in a bad position, while those who have had an assortment of fruits have had some- 
thing to fall back upon. 
Now a word about our labors for the past year. Besides the issuing of our Horti- 
cultwrist and annual report, we have arranged a list of the varieties of apples adapted 
to Ontario, showing their relative values, hardiness, productiveness, quality etc., estab- 
lishing a scale of points for judging fruit at fairs, which we think will be of great value ; 
we have held two meetings for the show of fruits and discussions a full account 
of which will appear in our next annual report. These meetings have been well attended 
by our own members and their friends, besides we have had several prominent horticul- 
turists from the United States to give us the benefit of their experience, so that, alto- 
gether, the report of 1890 may be looked for as one of great value. We have distributed 
over 2,000 trees, vines, and plants to our members for trial, and let me here emphasize 
that word trial, for I fear too many of our members think these trees and plants are given 
just as an inducement for them to become members, or as a gift, and as they cost them 
nothing they do not give them the care and attention they should. This is not the 
object for which they are given ; they are given you for trial. They are generally new 
and untried varieties and we wish to have them tested in different sections of the country 
and upon different soils and locations and careful reports made upon them for the good 
of the country at large. So, if they are valuable, others can plant them and if they are 
not suited to one section, let it be known, so that others in that section will avoid plant- 
ing them. We consider that you get your dollar’s worth from the Horticulturist and 
report and that you should do this testing for the good of others. 
Another work which many of the prominent members of the association have been 
engaged in and which 1 think will be productive of much good, has been the visiting of 
farmers’ institutes throughout the province and taking part in the discussions upon 
horticultural subjects, imparting what information they could in relation to fruit grow- 
ing. During the year we have had a Dominion convention of fruit growers which many 
of our members attended, and at which many questions of intervst were discussed. 
Perhaps the most important was that of shipping and marketing. Agents of differ- 
ent transportation companies met us and listened to our grievances and suggestions, 
and they manifested a desire to furnish us better facilities and greater dispatch in ship- 
ping our fruits. I believe, as a result, there has been an improvement in this respect 
during the year, though I think we have just cause to complain yet of the way our fruit 
is handled by some of the express companies, and their want of proper accommodation 
in their cars, which are generally destitute of shelves for storing fruit. Slight baskets 
