THE CAI^ADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 115 



passed both very agreeably and profitably, and the members returned 

 to the town in time for the evening meeting, most favorably impressed 

 with the educational advantages of the institution, and the courteous 

 hospitality of the officers. 



It is gratifying to learn that the farmers are taking an interest in 

 this School of Agriculture, and that already several thousand have 

 visited the grounds this summer as a pleasant holiday excursion for 

 their families, and have shown their appreciation of what is being done 

 there for their benefit by paying a visit to the institution ; and, although 

 sometimes coming in considerable numbers at a time, not a shrub, or 

 plant, or flower, or fruit was touched. 



EVENING SESSION. 



After appointing Messrs. Leslie, Beall and A. M. Smith a committee 

 to examine the fruits on exhibition, the meeting listened to a paper 

 from Mr. B. Gott, Arkona, upon the fruit prospects of the County of 

 Lambton, in which he stated that this year there was likely to be not 

 merely plenty of fruit, but a superabundance, so that orchardists are 

 already looking out for a market. The crop of strawberries was 

 unusually large. One grower reported having gathered from haK an 

 acre fifteen hundred and sixty-eight quarts, which he sold at an average 

 price of nine cents per quart. Easpberries, currants and gooseberries 

 are just ripening in great abundance, and of most admirable quality. 

 Some simple method of preserving these summer fruits for winter use 

 is much needed in this section. The apple crop will be plentiful, but 

 not over-abundant. There will be some very fine pears this year, 

 especially of Bartletts and Flemish Beauty, but the crop will not be 

 very large. The supply of plums will be amazing, both in quantity 

 and quality, and the crop of peaches promises to be tlie largest known 

 in this county for many years — so great indeed that it will be 

 impossible to obtain a sufficient market for them in that locality. The 

 season was one of extreme and unusual earliness ; fruits are ripening 

 fully two weeks in advance of their usual time of ripening. Crops of 

 aU, except apples and pears, are unusually fine and abundant, and there 

 is a more than usual immunity from insect pests. 



Mr. Gott received the thanks of the meeting for his interesting 

 paper, which he was requested to hand to thQ Secretary for th^ 

 Annual Report. 



