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THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



For some time it was believed the pro- 

 posal to unite the two divisions had been 

 abandoned. The announcement by the Hon. 

 Sydney Fisher that he had carried out his 

 oiginal intention came, therefore, as a great 

 surprise to fruit growers generaJly. 



THE minister's REASONS. 



The reasons for this action, as given by 

 tiie Hon. Sydney Fisher, in tne House oi 

 Commons, are as follows : 



" On the passage of the Act to provide 

 for the marking and inspection of packages 

 containing fruit for sale, known as the 

 " Fruit Marks Act, 1901," it became neces- 

 sary to organize a staff for the administra- 

 tion and enforcement of the Act. The or- 

 ganization was placed, by the Minister of 

 Agriculture, under the control of the Com- 

 missioner of Agtriculture and Dairying, Dr. 

 James W. Robertson, and became known i^*; 

 the fruit division of the branch. 



" In addition to the enforcement and ad- 

 ministration of the Fruit Marks Act the 

 fruit division was dharged with the super- 

 vision of the packing and transportation of 

 fruit, particularly in cold storage and cool 

 chambers, and the marketing of the same, 

 and this brought the work of the division in 

 close connection with the cold storage and 

 extension of markets divisions, which, hav- 

 ing been organized principal'ly for facilitat- 

 ing the transportation and promoting the 

 sale of dairy products, were in charge of the 

 chief of the dairy division, Mr. J. A. Rud- 

 dick, under the Commissioner of Agricul- 

 ture and Dairying for several years prior to 

 the retirement of the latter. 



" Upon the retirement of Dr. Robertson, 

 and the abolition of the office of Commis- 

 sioner of Agriculture and Dairying, Mr. 

 Ruddick was appointed Dairy Commis- 

 sioner, the work of the cold storage and the 

 extension of markets divisions being con- 

 tinued imder him; and owing to his close 

 relations with the work of the fruit division, 

 as above stated, it was deemed advisable to 



place the Avork of the latter division in his 

 charge as well. The chief and other offi- 

 cers of the fruit division have been retained 

 in office with the saime duties as formerly, 

 which they will hereafter perform under the 

 dairy commissioner, as they formerly did 

 under the Commissioner of Agriculture and 

 Dairying. 



"It is the intention of the Minister of 

 Agriculture to make the work of the depart- 

 ment, both in the fruit division and at the 

 experimental farms, commensurate with the 

 needs of the fruit industry in Canada." 



FRUIT GROWERS NOT SATISFIED. 



This explanation has not satisfied fruit 

 growers. While it is granted that Prof. 

 Robertson was in charge of the fruit divi- 

 sion it is pointed out he was also in charge 

 of the live stock, dairy, poultry, seeds and 

 other divisions of the departmental work 

 and that he was largely responsible for their 

 being established. No objection is taken 

 to ]\Ir. Ruddick having charge of matters 

 pertaming to the transportation of fruit in 

 cold storage, but there is to his having 

 charge of matters pertaining to the Fruit 

 Alarks Act, and other matters of a similar 

 nature relating to the fruit industry. 



VIEWS OF I.EADING GROWERS. 



That fruit growers are thoroughly aroused 

 over this matter will be seen by the follow- 

 ing letters Avhich have reached The Horti- 

 culturist from all parts of Canada: 



BRITISH COLUMBIA. 



W. J. Brandrith, Sec.-Treas. British Co- 

 lumbia Fruit Growers' Association : The 

 fruit interests of this Dominion are as de- 

 serving of recognition as any other industry. 

 Not that we have anything against Mr. 

 Ruddick, on the contrary we esteem him 

 very highly, but we want a man at the head 

 of the fruit division \vho has had as wide an 

 experience in the fruit industry as Mr. Ru \- 

 dick has had in the dair}^ industry. Surely 

 Hon. Mr. Fisher will not go in the face of 

 a united country and maintain an appoint- 



