A PROVINCIAL HORTICULXURAIi ASSOCIATION 



The horticultural societies of the province 

 appear to be in need of ibetter organization. 

 There is no means by which the members of 

 one society can be brought in touch with those 

 of another to the benefit of both. The dairy, 

 live stock, poultry, fruit and other interests all 

 have their provincial organizations, but horti- 

 culturists hav ■ none The agricultural societies 

 of the province are brought in contact with 

 each other yearly at the annual meeting of the 

 Canadian Association of Fairs and Exhibitions. 

 Why should not representatives of the horti- 

 cultural societies hold a similar annual meeting 

 at Toronto ? 



This spring Mr. T. H. Race, of Mitchell, who 

 visited and addressed a number of meetings 

 held by horticultural societies, reported on his 

 return that he had found many of the societies 

 appeared to have a very poor conception of their 

 dudes. They were not attempting to hold 

 regular meetings or exhibitions or even to dis- 

 tribute plants or seeds. He suggested that 

 steps be taken to put life into some of these 

 societies. 



In this connection Mr. H. B. Cowan, superin- 

 tendent of agricultural societies for the pro- 

 vince, has written to the horticultural societies 

 to learn if they would like to have a general 

 meeting of their representatives held in Toronto 

 next November at the time of the combined 

 fruit flower and honey show. If considered ad- 

 visable steps could then be taken to form a pro- 

 vincial association. Already a number of re- 

 plies have been received, all of them being in 

 favor of action of some sort. Some of the re- 

 plies are here given. 



WHAT THE SOCIETIES SAY. 



That the Horticultural societies are at a dis- 

 advantage in not having a provincial associa- 

 tion, to my mind, there can be no question. It 

 would be well for you to state for the benefit of 

 those who have never given the matter a 

 thought what the benefits would be. The sug- 

 gestion could then be discussed at society meet- 

 ings. The combined show it is purposed to 

 hold in Toronto next November is a good idea 

 and should be largely patronized. — (E. Gurney, 

 sec. Hespeler Hort'l soc. 



I am satisfied that this is a step in the right 



direction, and I am sure our society will only be 

 too glad to comply with your request in ap- 

 pointing delegates to attend this show. Such 

 an exhibit must result in lasting good. — (J. G. 

 Jackson, sec. Port Hope Hort'l soc. 



I have consulted with prominent members of 

 our association and they all express an opinion 

 favorable to the idea of a provincial horticul- 

 tural association, and it is likely that this fo- 

 ciety will be represented at the meeting in No- 

 vember. The letter will be laid before the di- 

 rectors at our next meeting. — (W. W. Living- 

 stone, sec. Tilsonburg Hort'l soc. 



At a meeting of the board of directors of the 

 Cardinal Horticultural society, held last even- 

 ing, I was instructed to advise you that our so- 

 ciety would consider favo;rably the proposotion 

 to form a provincial Horticultural association, 

 and will be pleased to support anything that 

 may be done along that line at the meeting in 

 November. — (D. Gow, sec. Cardinal Hort'l soc. 



The Cayuga Horticultural society approves 

 of the suggestion to form a provincial horticul- 

 tural society, and will send a delegate to the 

 combined fruit, fiower and honey show to be 

 held in Toronto next november. — (F. G. Lish- 

 man, sec. 



The suggestion to organize horticultural so- 

 cieties on a plan similar to the Fairs associa- 

 tion is, I think, feasible, and sure to work for 

 their good. I have no doubt a delegate will be 

 appointed to attend by the Simcoe Horticultural 

 society. — (J. Thos. Murphy, sec. 



The president of the Oakville Horticultural 

 society desires me to say that he heartily con- 

 curs in the proposal to hold a provincial meet- 

 ing .of delegates from horticultural societies in 

 Toronto in November next, and that he has no 

 doubt but that the Oakville society will send 

 delegates to such a meeting. Personally I shall 

 be glad to do what little I can to promote the 

 success of such a meeting. — (J. Cavers, sec. 



Messrs. Chris Firth, secretary of the Durham 

 Horticultural society, and Allan Cameron, sec- 

 retary of the Owen iSound society, have both 

 written expressing sympathy with the proposal 

 to form a provincial association and promising 

 to lay the matter before their directors at the 

 first opportunity. 



Doing Good Work.— Our society during May 

 was busy preparing Grand Avenue Park for the 

 use of 30 selected pupils of the public school, 

 who have each been given a plot and furnished 

 •with flower and vegetable seeds and gladiolus 

 bulbs. They planted both seeds and bulbs, un- 

 der the supervision of a practical gardener. We 

 have also distributed amongst the other children 

 of the school about 500 packages of flower and 

 vegetable seeds, and intend holding a children's 

 flower and vegetable show at a suitable time. 

 We will also give prizes for best cultivated 

 plots both at the park and at the houses of the 

 children. — (W. W. Livingstone, sec. Tilsonburg 

 Hort'l soc. 



Hold an Annual Show. — An annual exhibition 

 of plants is held each autumn by the Cardinal 

 Horticultural society, at which prizes are given 

 for the best exhibits of the different varieties 



of garden and house plants. This has the ef- 

 fect of stimulating competition, among the 

 members, and truly the town hall, where the 

 exhibit is held, is a beautiful sight on the day 

 and evening of this exhibition. Since the for- 

 mation of ithe society in the village a marked 

 improvement has taken place in the lawns, as 

 well as in the number and quality of the house 

 plants owned in this place. — (D. Gow, sec. Car- 

 dinal Hort'l soc. 



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