17 
know the families to which they belong, and thereby something 
of their characters—their peculiarities of growth and reproduc- 
tion—in order the more effectually to adopt proper measures for 
their extermination. . 
3. Vegetable Pathology.—In spite of all our care and attention, 
sometimes indeed because of it, disease will appear in our orchards 
and vegetable gardens. And if it were only for coping success- 
fully with’ disease, 2 knowledge of vegetable physiology, or the 
conditions of healthy growth, might be recommended, for in order 
to understand disease properly, which is a departure from the 
normal condition, you must understand health, the condition from 
which that departure has been made. There can be no question 
of the supreme importance to the fruit-grower of his being 
prepared to deal with the various diseases which threaten him. 
Our climate, which is so favorable to vegetable growth, is like- 
wise pre-eminently suitable for the various forms of fungi which 
prey upon our fruit trees and fruit, and there is an absence of 
that continuous and excessive cold of other countries which tends 
to keep in check both insect and fungus pests. 
This department of vegetable pathology is one which will be 
specially and practically attended to here. Not only have we 
specimens of the various diseases affecting fruit trees ‘and fruit, 
which will be used for illustration, but any such will be treated 
in the gardens, and the best-known measures for their prevention 
or mitigation practically demonstrated, in conjunction with Mr. 
Neilson. ; 
But in order to apply the remedy we must first study the 
disease. The Premier, on a recent occasion, referring to a serious 
disease of the body-politic, used language which is also very 
appropriate here. He said—‘“If we desire to effect a cure, the 
first thing is to ascertain the nature, the history, and the extent 
of the disease; and then, having done so, to apply the proper 
remedy, if it can be found.” We seek to find out the cause of 
the disease, and having done so, to remove it, if possible, and 
thereby effect a cure. : 
In studying the fungi causing disease it is absolutely necessary 
to use the microscope, and therefore every one attending this 
school will be trained in the use of that instrument. I hope that 
the day is not far distant when every horticultural society will 
possess one for the use of its members, and I am pleased to be 
able to state that I was asked to choose a microscope for a horti- 
cultural society a short time ago, intended to be presented as a 
mark of respect to their energetic secretary. 
Knowing the disease, which can often only be accurately 
revealed by the microscope, we are provided with the means in 
many cases of dealing with it. Great advances have been made 
in remedial measures within the last few years, and when the 
826. B 
