VOL. III.] APRIL, 1380. [No. 4, 



OUIi TREE AND PLANT DISTRIBUTION. 



There seems to be a very erroneous impression abroad in regard tq 

 the object which the Fruit Growers' Association \\e\fS in view, in sending 

 to each of its men^bers some plant or tree each year. The impression 

 that seems to prevail is that it is a sort of bonus giyei^ to the members 

 to make up an equivalent for the annual fee. NpAy this is not thQ 

 correct idea. The Directors believe that each member receives in the 

 Annual Report and in the twelve numbers of the Canadian Horti- 

 lULTURIST a i'ull return for the dollar. The object which the Directory 

 seek to attain is to make an e.^perimental garden of the whole Province, 

 and each member an assistcj,i]t gardener, who is expected each year to 

 report whether the tree or plant proves to be hardy, productive, free 

 from disease, and the fruit good or poor in quality, its time of ripening, 

 usefulness, and profitableness, It is often as important to know that 

 a fruit is poor in quality, or does not usually ripen, or that the tree is 

 not hardy or not productive in any locality, as to know the very 

 opposite. Yet members have been quite ready to find fault with tho 

 Directors for sending a plant or tree the fruit of which did not prove 

 to be of good quality, or large in size, or the tree 4i4 ^ot prove to be 

 hardy or productive. It seems to have entirely escaped them that it 

 ^^'as sent to them in order to ascertain tliese very points, and that they 

 are acting the part of experimenters, growing and fruiting the thing 

 not for their personal benefit, but to add the results of their experi- 

 ment to the general stock of knowledge with regard to the variety of 

 fruit sent them to test. It is expected that members are willing in 

 this way to contribute to the diffusion of information with regard to 

 the fruits that succeed or fail, that those who come after may kno\y 

 ^\•hat to plant and what not to plant. " No man liveth to himself," 

 ind fruit growers ape just the men to prove the trutli pf this maxinj 

 i-y unselfish Vdhqv for the good of others, 



