THE CA.N APIAN HORTICULTDRIST. 



85- 



COUNTY OF RENFREW FRUIT 



GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 



To THE Editor of the Canadian Horticulturist. 



There have, no doubt, been great 

 difficulties encountered heretofore in the 

 cultivation of fruit itself in this dis- 

 trict, and there are probably many 

 difficulties yet to be overcome ; but 

 there was not the slightest trouble in 

 organizing what promises to be a very 

 successful County Fruit Growers' Asso. 

 ciation. From the first, the idea of a 

 meeting to " rub noses" on horticultural 

 and kind)*ed topics was i-eceived with 

 favour by the farmers and amateurs of 

 the immediate vicinity of Renfrew 

 Village and even by enthusiasts from 

 extreme ends of the County ; and the 

 Association started into life with nearly 

 fifty members, everyone of whom, 

 through it, became a member of the 

 Ontario Association. 



The inaugural meeting was held in 

 the Town Hall, Renfrew, on the after- 

 noon of Tuesday, Jan. 22nd, and about 

 half of these members were present, 

 besides a sprinkling of interested 

 visitors. The officers were selected 

 from the town and various townships 

 represented, as follows : — President, A. 

 A. Wright, Renfrew ; Vice-President, 

 David Halliday, Horton ; Sec.-Treas., 

 W. E. Suiall field, Renfrew ; Committee, 

 Andrew Forrest, John Johnston, Allan 

 J. Lindsay ; Robt. McLaren, Horton ; 

 James Fraser, Bagot ; John Stewart, 

 McNab ; R. Humphries, Ross ; and 

 Donald CampVjell, Admaston. 



After a short address by the Pre- 

 sident, the work laid out for the first 

 meeting — the pre[)aration of a reliable 

 list of the apples that have been suc- 

 cessfully grown in the district — was 

 proceeded with. Every member pre- 

 sent, in turn, was called upon by name 

 to relate his experiences of success and 



failure in full. This informal and con- 

 versational style of conducting the 

 meeting was received with favour, and 

 secured good results. An extended 

 report of the information thus gathered 

 will appear as an appendix to the 

 Ontario Association's Annual Report, 

 but as that will probably not be pub- 

 lished for some time, a summary of the 

 " experiences" may prove of use to those 

 living in similar districts who wish to 

 purchase stock this season. 



There was a unanimous decision in 

 favour of the "Wealthy and Duchess of 

 Oldenburg apples Everybody grows 

 them, and they succeed widi everybody. 

 Tetofsky is also almost universally suc- 

 cessful ; and the Walbridge, Mcintosh 

 Red and Red Astrachan, though not so 

 generally fruited, are all giving very 

 fair satisfaction. The Fameuse is not 

 so generally grown as might be sup- 

 posed, but there are some very old trees 

 in the vicinity, bearing splendid crops. 

 The Alexander and Pewaukee were 

 variously reported on, but with a 

 majority in their favour. This com- 

 pletes the list of really reliable trees, 

 although there were a large number of 

 others spoken of succeeding and failing 

 with individuals — not sufficient evi- 

 dence, however, to make or condemn 

 their reputations for general hardiness 

 and fruitful ness. 



Mr. Wright read the paper on "Apple 

 culture in the cold north," which he 

 also presented before the Ontario Asso- 

 ciation at the Woodstock meeting. 



The members were requested to make 

 a large display of grapes at the local 

 Agricultural Society's next Exhibition ; 

 and to note the dates when they com- 

 menced to colour and when they 

 ripened. 



It was decided to hold another meet- 

 ino- in June or July for the discussion 

 of the subject of " Small Fruits." 



The success of the meeting was so 



