lie Canadian Horticokorist 



DECEMBER, 1905 



Volume XXVIII 



Number 12 



THE ONTARIO HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITION 



C'* REAT was the success of the second 

 J annual Ontario Horticultural Exhibi- 

 tion held in Massey Hall, Toronto, Novem- 

 ber 14-18. The total number of entries 

 was more than double the number made last 

 year, and the interest shown in the exhibi- 

 tion was much more marked. This exhibi- 

 tion promises to become an annual event of 

 national importance and will be of great 

 value in advancing the horticultural inter- 

 ests of the country. 



The exhibits of fruit were more than 

 twice as numerous as last year and the 

 quality was much superior. It was the best 

 exhibition of the kind ever held in Canada. 

 The display of flowers was a revelation. 

 While the number of entries was but little 

 larger than last year, the character of the 

 blooms was much superior. Experts pro- 

 nounced it the finest exhibition of flowers 

 ever seen in the Dominion and one of the 

 best ever held on the continent. This year, 

 for the first time, prizes were offered for 

 vegetables, and the results were most grati- 

 fying. Over 300 entries were made and 

 the excellent quality of the exhibits and the 

 attractive manner in which they were dis- 

 played made this one of the best features. 

 The apiarists maintained the high standard 

 of the exhibition by a very fine display of 

 honey. As a combined show it is doubtful 

 if the exhibition has ever been surpassed by 

 any other ever held on the continent. When 

 it is remembered that this was onlv the 



second attempt the splendid success of the 

 effort will be realized. 



The exhibition was formally opened on 

 the afternoon of the first day by Hon. Nel- 

 son Monteith, Minister of Agriculture, who 

 showed clearly that he realizes the vast im- 

 portance of the horticultural interests of the 

 province and that he is anxious to promote 

 them. Speeches were made by Mayor 

 I'rquhart. of Toronto; Mr. W. H. Bunting, 

 of St. Catharines; Mr. A. N. Brown, of 

 Wyoming, Del., and by one or two others. 



Five conventions were held during the 

 exhibition. Most of them were largely at- 

 tended and all were important. They in- 

 cluded the annual convention of the Ontario 

 Fruit Growers' Association, the first annual 

 convention of the Ontario Vegetable Grow- 

 ers' Association, a pomological convention, 

 a gathering of representatives from the 

 horticultural societies of the province, and 

 the Bee Keepers' convention. Over 300 

 people holding standard railway- certificates 

 attended one or more of these meetings. 

 This is an evidence of the interest taken in 

 them. 



GATE RECEIPTS SMALL. 



In only one way was the exhibition dis- 

 appointing. That was in the attendance 

 of the citizens of Toronto. On this account 

 the gate receipts were several hundred dol- 

 lars le^s than it was hoped they would be 

 and caused a deficit the directors have since 

 had considerable difficulty in overcoming. 



