Xlv. 
2 —————— 
boon to the country, and in 30 years more we would make much more rapid advances in 
the improvement of varieties than we have in the past. I hope that a committee will be 
appointed by this Association to interview the Government upon this subject. 
It gives me much pleasure to meet my co-laborers here in the city of Hamilton 
again, and although I do not see many faces that I met here thirty years ago, it reminds 
me of them and of the many pleasant meetings we have had here. 1t reminds me too 
that many of them have passed away. Only a few of the original founders of this 
society are left ; their places have been filled by other workers, and some of them have 
been called also. During the past year we have lost one from our board of Directors 
whose genial, kindly face will be missed by all; ever active in the discharge of duty, 
cheerful, jovial and true as a friend, the name of John Croil will ever be revered by the 
members of this Association. We have sustained another great loss in the death of Wm. 
H. Mills of this city. It was largely through his efforts that we became incorporated 
and received the Government grant, and although since his retirement from office he has 
not taken an active part in our meetings, he has had a deep interest in our success, labors 
and welfare as evinced in his generous donation of his entire stock of his hybrid grape, 
the Mills, which will be distributed to the members of the Association next spring. Not 
only this Association but the horticultural world has met with a great loss in the death 
of Charles Gibb, of Abbotsford, Quebec, whose whole life was devoted to this’pursuit, and 
whose labors and researches have done more to secure fruits adapted to the colder parts 
of our country than those of any other man. Another prominent horticulturist across 
the line, to whom we are much indebted and whom many of us knew, and whom to know 
was to respect and love, and who has done as much probably for this cause as any man 
in the United States, has gone. I refer to Patrick Barry af Rochester, Y.Y., who has 
long been the honored president of the Western New York Horticultural Society. We 
mourn with them his loss. Thus one after another of our workers pass away, but the 
fruits of their labors live after them—more enduring monuments than those of marble 
or granite—to perpetuate their memory. May their mantle fall on us, and when our 
work here is finished may those who are left behind point to some rich results of our 
labors. 
On motion it was resolved that this Association hereby express its appreciation of 
the excellent address just given by the President, and refer the points touched upon to 
the consideration of a committee hereafter to be appointed. 
COMMITTEES. 
A nominating committee was appointed to nominate the officers for the coming year, 
consisting of Messrs. M. Pettit and D. Nichol appointed by the chair, and Messrs. P. O. 
Dempsey, W. E. Wellington and J. K. Leslie appointed by the meeting. This com- 
mittee reported as follows :— 
President—J. A. Morton. Vice-President—A. H. Pettit. Directors—1, W.S. Turner ; 2, John Craig ; 
3, D. Nichol ; 4, P. C. Dempsey ; 5, Thos. Beall; 6, W. E. Wellington; 7, M. Pettit: 8, A. M. Smith ; 
9, J. K. McMichael: 10, A. McD Allan; 11, T. H. Race ; 12, N. J. Clinton ; 13, G. C. Caston. Auditors - 
Jas. Goldie and J. M. Denton. After these names had been voted upon seriatim the report was adopted. 
