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perhaps if that gentleman had twenty years experience in the handling and management 
of agents he would be better qualified to offer advice calculated to enable me to overcome 
the difficulties’ encountered in running agents. There is much to be said against agents 
and nurserymen and there is also much to be said against cunning fruit growers and farm- 
ers, and when we touch upou humbugs we touch upon a very wide subject; one which 
might occupy a great deal more time than we have at our present disposal. In the dis- 
cussion of humbugs I might tell you of many little frauds which we hear of as being com- 
mitted by farmers in bringing their goods to market. All these things are very disagree- 
able when raked up before a class ot people who live in glass houses and who therefore 
should not throw stones. The fruit tree agent has been of ser vice, even with all his 
humbugging, because the experience people have had with him has made them more care- 
ful. The matter rests entirely with the people themselves. As nurserymen we have 
many difficulties to contend with and we try to meet them squarely and to deal with them 
in the most effective way suggested by our expcrience, and there is more honesty in the 
business than we are generally given credit for. Regarding the Russian apricot, we gave 
it a very fair test as to hardiness ; as to the quality of the fruit we were aware we could not 
depend on its being uniform, but as an ornamental tree sent out singly it was no humbug. 
These things have to be experimented on and tested by the fruit grower as well as the 
nurseryman. They were introduced in the first place from Russia and they were tested 
by a firm who bore a very good character in Nebraska to begin with, and [ do not think 
they will prove a humbug altogether. The same firm introduced the Russian olive, in 
regard to which we have been very conservative—we would not put them out at all. 
Prof. Saunders tells me, however, that they are a perfect success, and he thinks they are 
perfectly hardy at Ottawa. It is a novelty asa fruit that will never amount to anything, 
but as an ornamental shrub it will be a success. Still it will be denounced by some as a 
fraud and a humbug. We should look at these things and consider before making sweep- 
ing accusations sgainst any class of persons. 
Mr. Racr.—I am in thorough accord with the secretary in his remarks. [I do not 
think it is a good principle to mention names either in a favorable or reverse manner and 
I have always, where I could avoid doing so, refrained from it ; but it is not a very easy 
thing to do when you start out to talk to farmers about fruit growing, they will crowd you 
until you almost have to do it to satisfy them. At Meaford I took the platform at seven 
o'clock and the farmers, who are very keenly interested in fruit growing, kept me until 
ten o’clock plying me with questions. There were quite a number of agents present, but 
the farmers cornered me up so that I was forced to mention some of these names. As 
long as we have in our own country reliable nurserymen able to supply the demand I think 
we should recommend them, and advise our institutes to send men to buy from them what 
they want, direct from the nursery. 
COMMITTEES, REPORTS AND QUESTION DRAWER. 
After considerable criticism and several changes in values of the apples, the fruit list 
for Ontario was finally adopted by the Association. The list, as finally adopted, appears 
at the end of this Report, for convenience of reference. 
FRUIT COMMITTEE. 
The Secretary.—I think the present is a very suitable time for me to suggest the 
appointment of one or two committees. In the first place we have a little fruit on the 
table, and we must ask the President to appoint a committee to inspect it carefully and 
report on it. I had a couple of baskets of strawberries sent me three or four days or a 
week ago, with a request that I should bring them before the Fruit Committee of our 
association. Unfortunately they were in no condition to present when J came away from 
home. They were of a new strawberry which originated near Brantford, called Prince of 
Orange, or Williams’ improved, so called from the originator, Mr. Williams. They were 
sent me by David (Greig of Oainsville. The berries are certainly extra large and fine, and 
