14 
three others was deputed to inspect and report upon the character of the lake shore 
district frem St. Thomas to Amherstburg. We started out with the expectation that we 
would be able to complete the task in two or three days, and we had vehicles to take us. | 
along, but we found so much to interest us that our time was consumed’ before we 
reached Chatham. We found so many evidences of the advantages of the district for 
the growth not only of apples, pears and plums, but also of peaches, that the committee 
were quite astonished and reported most favorably of the district, hoping the next year 
to take up the remainder of the district, including this, your favorite county. I believe, 
however, that this was not done, and the work has never been completed. I make the 
suggestion, and think it would not be a bad idea, for the Association to send a deputa- 
tion up here, to report upon the advantages possessed by this district for the growth of 
the finer fruits. I am sure they can be produced here in great abundance. In connec- 
tion with my duties as director of the Experimental Farm, it is my business to travel 
from Halifax to Vancouver, and I try to find out all I can about that little stretch of 
country—only about four thousand miles! But it takes some time to get over it and 
get acquainted with it and the differences of climate, soil and other characteristics con- 
nected with it. JI have seen and examined the most favored districts of British Colum- 
bia, and some of them are certainly very promising for fruit growing; but I am free to 
say that I am not acquainted with any part of the Dominion in whieh fruit-growing can 
be carried on with greater promise of success than in the county of Essex. The display 
we have upon the table before us, most of which, I understand, comes from this vicinity, 
and has been produced here, should be sufficient to satisfy anyone that it is indeed a — 
great fruit district which can grow such apples as these, keeping until this time in such 
condition as we see them. I would advise you, one and all, to cultivate more fruit ; and 
I may say here that I believe in the aesthetic aspect of the question which has been 
advanced by my friend Mr. Garfield. You will seldom find a man actively and enthu- 
siastically engaged in any department of horticulture who is a bad man. I suppose I 
ought to say something to you about the present and future of experimental farm work, 
as it bears upon fruit culture in Canada, In the organization of the work of the Experi- 
mental Farm, as the name implies, all departments of agriculture are expected to be 
covered ; everything, in fact, with which a farmer is concerned—corn growing, stock | 
raising and all the other important features of farm work. Such experimental work, 
taken up from time to time, will be wnost beneficial to the provinces in which these farms. 
are situated. That is all I propose saying about the farm work generally. But in the 
department of horticulture I must say a few words more, as there are many very import- 
ant aspects of this work to be considered, when we take into account the population of 
the Dominion and its needs. I firmly believe that it is the best policy and the only 
practical solution of some existing difficulties, that in districts like this, which are very 
favorably situated for fruit growing, it should be gone into on a Jarge scale. J am 
equally as strong in my belief of the importance of having fruit at every man’s door if it 
is possible to have it, in every part of this Dominion, but while there are few sections of 
the country where small fruits, such as strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries and cur- 
rants cannot be grown, there are very many indeed where a beautiful apple, pear, plum, 
or peach, such as you can grow in Essex, cannot be grown at all; where the trees will 
not endure the severity of the climate. Either the cold of winter or the drouth of sum- 
mer is sure to destroy them. The work of the Experimental Farm is to introduce from 
other countries having similar climates, and to originate in our own country varieties. 
specially adapted to those districts not so favorably situated as yours is, so that we may 
eventually be able to produce apples, pears and plums which will prove hardy even in 
the most rigorous climates. We have in the Dominion to furnish to the settler the 
varieties he can grow to advantage, and if they are not up to the first quality, I know 
they will appreciate in the districts I have spoken of even second and third class, if they 
can grow them. In connection with the Experimental Farm work, a farm has been 
selected in Nova Scotia, at a village called Napan, where, though there are good facili- 
ties for fruit growing, the people have not paid much attention to it; partly, as they 
will tell you if you ask them, that they can buy apples grown in the famous Annapolis 
Valley cheaper than they can grow them. They are beginning, however, to realise that. 
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