The Canadian Horticulturist. 



THE WINTER MEETING. 



©UR Meeting at Windsor on the nth and 12th of December, was one of 

 great profit, and will no doubt do much toward interesting the 

 farmers of the County of Essex in fruit culture. The dark, rich land 

 #)f that section of country seems tt) be peculiarly adapted to the culture of 

 the grape, and already some very extensive vineyards have been planted, 

 which give enormous crops of fruit. 



The officers of the Association were taken out in carriages to Walkerville, 

 to see the extensive industries which are being opened up in this suburb of 

 Windsor, through the judicious expenditure of his wealth by Mr. Hiram 

 Walker. As fruit growers, we were much interested in a visit to the 

 Walkerville basket factory, where fruit packages of every style are being 

 turned out in great quantities. 



Few changes were made in the Directorate, except that A. M. Smith, of 

 St. Catharines, was made President ; J. A. Morton, of Wingham, Vice-Presi- 

 dent ; D. Nichol, Cararaqui, Director for Agricultural Division No. 

 3 ; T. H. Race, of Mitchell, for Division No. 11 ; and N. J. Clinton, Wind- 

 sor, for Division No. 12. 



The town of Windsor rendered every courtesy, through the Mayor ex- 

 tending a hearty public welcome to our Association and providing an excel- 

 lent programme of music to enliven the evening sessions. 



A novel feature of the Windsor meeting was the practical illustration of 

 the renewal system of grape pruning, by Mr. O'Neill, of Windsor, for which 

 a trellis and vines were brought upon the platform, and pruned in illustration 

 of the principles laid down. 



One of the most important tasks which the Association has yet un- 

 dertaken is the preparation, by a committee consisting of Messrs. Beall, 

 Allan, Dempsey and Bucke, of an Ontario Fruit Catalogue, so arranged 

 as to show (i) a list of the varieties grown in the Province, and (2) lists 

 showing the varieties best suited to the climate, elevation, soil, etc., for every 

 district and locality. These lists are to be so arranged as to enable judges 

 at competition exhibitions of fruits, to intelligently estimate the true com- 

 parative value of any fruit of exhibition, and thereby secure a uniformity and 

 fairness in judging fruits at such exhibitions. 



The plan of rating supposes each variety to be a perfect specimen of its 

 kind, and the maximum which any variety may have under each heading is 

 10 points. Frequently, of course, imperfect specimens are exhibited, in which 

 case the values assigned most be reduced one or more points for each of 

 such defects, as (i) under size, (2) unevenness of size on the plate, (3) wormy, 

 scabby, or ill-shapen samples, (4) lack of stem or calyx, (5) bloom polished off, 

 or for anything which tends to change the natural color of the fruit. The 



