CANADIAN FLORISTS IN ANNUAL SESSION 



THE seventh annual convention of the 

 Canadian Horticultural Association, 

 held in Ottawa, August 9, 10 and 11, 

 brought together a jolly and intelligent body 

 of Canada's leading florists, who managed 

 to spend a most enjoyable and profitable 

 three days. Florists were present from all 

 parts of Ontario and various points in Que- 

 bec, while one or two of the more distant 

 provinces were also represented. The con- 

 vention, in almost every way, was the most 

 successful in the history of the association, 

 as the attendance was representative, the 

 exhibits the most numerous on record, the 

 discussions full of valuable information, and 

 the interest manifest. The great growth 

 in the membership of the association during 

 the last four years was a matter of general 

 congratulation. 



THE NEW OFFICERS ELECTED. 



The election of officers resulted as fol- 

 lows : President, George A. Robinson, 

 Outremont, Que. ; first vice-president, W. 

 Suckling, Truro, N. S. ; second vice-presi- 

 dent, O. J. Johnson, Kingston, Ont. ; trea- 

 surer, H. Simmers, Toronto, re-elected ; 

 secretary, A. H. Ewing, of Woodstock, 

 Ont., re-elected ; executive committee, A. 

 Pinateau, Montreal ; J. Walsh, Montreal, 

 and A. Annandale, Toronto. 



One of the most important features of the 

 gathering was a discussion on the advisa- 

 bility of petitioning the Dominion Govern- 

 ment for a removal of the duty on azaleas 

 and other plants. The matter was referred 

 to in the president's address, and later a 

 committee was appointed to consider the 

 subject. On the presentation of the report 

 of this committee a lengthy discussion on 

 the subject was held, which resulted in the 

 adoption of the following motion : 

 " Whereas, at the last meeting of the Cana- 

 dian Horticultural Association, a resolution 

 was passed asking the government to make 

 certain changes in the existing fiscal tariflf ; 

 and whereas, the Minister of Finance has 



stated that there will probably be a general 

 revision of the tariff next year, and has in- 

 vited an expression of opinion from parties 

 interested, it would therefore appear ad- 

 visable that this association should give 

 some general expression of opinion upon the 

 subject, and it is therefore resolved that it 

 would be in the interests of the trade and in 

 harmony with the general policy of the 

 country that all articles that can be profit- 

 ably grown in Canada should be protected 

 by a tariff of not less than 25 per cent., with 

 a reduction of one-third upon importations 

 from Great Britain ; that among such arti- 

 cles as can be profitably grown in Canada 

 are palms, ferns, rubber plants, gladiolus, 

 cannas, dahlias and peonies. We also re- 

 commend that azalea plants or cuttings of 

 new varieties of plants imported for propa- 

 gating purposes be admitted free." Carried. 



SUBJECTS DISCUSSED. 



All the speakers who appeared on the pro- 

 gram were present, and their addresses and 

 papers were all of unusual interest. Those 

 who took part were : Mr. W. T. Macoun, 

 horticulturis-t at the Central Experimental 

 Farm, Ottawa, who gave a most interesting 

 and valuable paper on Hardy Perennials 

 Desirable for Florists. This lecture was 

 illustrated by a large display of flowers, a 

 portion of which' are shown in the cut used 

 in this issue of The Horticulturist. The 

 Florists Trade, from a retail standpoint, was 

 handled quite ably by Mr. A. C. Wilshire, 

 of jNIontreal, and Holiday Plants by Mr. 

 William Gammage, of London. Wednes- 

 day evening Mr. William Findlay, of 

 Brampton, spoke on The Best Way to Grow 

 Violets. One of the best discussions of the 

 convention took place over the question, The 

 Most Satisfactory Fuel for Heating Green- 

 houses, it being introduced by Mr. C. Scrim, 

 of Ottawa. The question box proved of 

 general interest. Among the subjects dealt 

 with were. What advantage has iron con- 

 struction of greenhouses over the orainary 



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