FATHER BURKES IMPRESSIONS OF US. 



67 



tions which turned him out, and proud of 

 Canada, which, although embarking late in 

 those pursuits, had already attained a 

 position so high and honorable among agri- 

 cultural communities. I only regretted that 

 in some of her provinces, in New Brunswick 

 and Prince Edward Island especially, the 

 same advantages which Ontario afforded 

 were not within every young man's reach, 

 the same emulation was not aroused, the 

 same patriotic sense of duty to the agri- 

 cultural interests, on the part of the local 

 administrations was not manifest. How- 

 ever, we must live in hopes. Our day will 



come." 



****** 



A Fruit Growing Region. 



" The town of Cobourg, too, is in the 

 midst of one of the best apple districts of 

 Ontario ; and, in springtime, the air must 

 be redolent with the sweet scent of the 

 blossoms. It is not wonderful, then, that 

 everybody in Cobourg is interested in trees 

 and flowers and fruit and all the concerns 

 they give rise to. On this account the 

 night sessons, known as 'Popular Meetings,' 

 were universally attended, the last being so 

 packed that standing room was at a premium 

 and many were turned away at the doors. 

 Such interest is certainly very encouraging, 

 augers well for the work and affords a means 

 of conveying information and stimulus 

 where otherwise they could not be made to 

 'reach. 



The 'Town Turned Out to Welcome Us. 



Then all the local celebrities were out in 

 force — the mayor, the sheriff", the district 

 president, colonels as thick as if one were in 

 Kentucky, senators, M.P.'s, M.P.P.'s, all 

 anxious to lend their presence, their voices. 



their assistance to the popular cause. And 

 such galaxies of ladies ! Who shall enumer- 

 ate them ? Let it be said, also, that the 

 hospitality of Cobourgers is the heartiest 

 and most princely to be anywhere enjoyed. 

 ****** 



Father Burke then goes at length into the 

 " burning question of cold storage," as he 

 terms it but of this the facts are now 

 known sufficiently and while he speaks of 

 the case made by Professor Robertson, 

 "that matter of systematic exportation," he 

 declares that ' ' the the debate on cold stor- 

 age was not satisfactory and left the im- 

 pression that there was still much to be done 

 before we reach the ideal." 



Speaking of packing. Father Burke gives 

 out his only unfavorable impression of us : 



" If half of what was said of the latter 

 were true, one ought to button up his 

 pockets carefully when in Ontario. There 

 was an awfully bad word for the fruit pack- 

 ed. Professor Robertson dealt with this 

 matter without gloves, as it affected trans- 

 portation and the old country markets — 

 honesty is vital to those matters— and with 

 the cold facts in hand, made a most unenvi- 

 able case against the Ontario packer. Of 

 course there was a deal of shifting of re- 

 sponsibility between the local and general 

 buyer ; but even with all this a feeling of 

 shame pervaded the gathering." 



The Law Will Take its Course. 



"The convention declared for an honest, 

 impartial, intelligent enforcement of the 

 Marks' Act as it stood on the statute." 

 Father Burke declares in conclusion ; and 

 with the comment, " This was satisfactory," 

 promises further articles on the meeting. 



