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lations for the control and extermination of insects and diseases which have 

 either obtained a foothold or were likely to do so. 



British Columbia, profiting no doubt by the sad experience of the older 

 provinces, has been more signally successful than any other province in putting 

 into effect enactments of this kind and the fruit districts of the province are 

 to-day practically free fron many of the insect pests which are causing immense 

 loss and injury elsewhere. Much credit for this state of affairs must be given to 

 Mr. Thomas Cunningham, the Chief Fruit Pest Inspector for British Columbia, 

 who has been faithful and untiring in his efforts to enforce the laws of this 

 province against the entrance and spread of fruit pests. 



The Province of Ontario has excellent legislation in regard to noxious 

 insects and fungous diseases, but it must be admitted, and this statement will 

 also apply with even greater force to the eastern provinces, that public sentiment 

 has not been sufficiently active here to see that the laws of this character have 

 been properly put into effect and enforced. In consequence, many sections 

 have been allowed to become hotbeds and breeding places of these pests, with 

 little or no aggressive or determined effort to eradicate them. 



Many other laws also have been put on the statute books, such as those^to 

 regulate the size and class of package to be used, and those intended to assist 

 the industry, either financially or otherwise, in some one or other of its various 

 phases. 



Last but not least, and one about which there is still some difference of 

 opinion, is that law entitled 'The Inspection and Sale Act/ but previously 

 and familiarly known as 'The Fruit Marks Act. 7 This enactment was the 

 result of a condition which had gradually increased in gravity until the credit 

 and standing of Canadian fruit, in foreign markets more particularly, was not 

 only in jeopardy but in danger of being entirely lost. 



Prominent fruitgrowers in Ontario, from which province the major ship- 

 ments for export were being sent, met and discussed the situation and called 

 upon the government to enact such legislation as would tend to remedy thi; 

 state of affairs and restore Canadian apples to their rightful place in the estima- 

 tion of the foreign markets. 



While not at first, and possibly not yet, perfect in its text or administration, 

 it is clearly evident that the careful and judicious administration of this Act 

 by the chief of the fruit division, has accomplished very much of what its 

 advocates hoped for it, by again establishing confidence in the pack of Canadian 

 fruit, and the various grades of fruit included in the Act have now a recognized 

 standing in the markets of the world. 



Owing to the fact that there are still some shippers who are deliberately 

 taking advantage of the saving clauses in regard to the grading of fruit, which 

 were inserted solely to protect the packer from inadvertence or inability to 

 carry out the intent of the Act to its fullest extent, it is a question whether 

 these clauses should not be either eliminated or at least considerably modified 

 in connection with the No. 1 and No. 2 grades of fruit. 



The reputation which some sections in the west have obtained for careful 

 grading and packing of apples in boxes, and the monetary value attached thereto, 

 to say nothing of the satisfaction experienced, should give ample food for thought 

 to many of our Canadian packers. 



EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES. 



Within comparatively recen. years the prosperity of fruitgrowing in Canada 

 has been largely aided by the establishment of educational institutions of one 

 form or another. 



Throughout the rural districts of this Dominion, from east to west, the 

 observant traveller cannot fail to see two contrasting pictures, On the one hand 

 there is the man who is working in a conscientious and painstaking manner, 



