58 



Prof. Saunders. — This question is important when looked at from the stand- 

 point of the duty, because if a tomatoe were a fruit it would come in free, and as a 

 vegetable it would be chargeable foi- duty. It has always appeared to me, while 

 there is no question about the tomatoe being botanically a fruit, that commercially it 

 is a vegetable, for the reason that a very large proportion of the tomatoes are used 

 cooked. I think there are comparatively few eaten raw, and even if there were, I 

 scarcely think we could regard them commercially in any other sense than as a 

 vegetable. If we class tomatoes as fruit, we must class cucumbers, squashes, and a 

 number of other things ordinarily used as vegetables in the same way. I think it 

 would be unwise on the part of this convention to take any action that would look 

 like straining a point in the way of bringing in •as fruit an article that would not be 

 regarded by the ordinary public in any other light than as a vegetable. 



The President. — When the prize list was being made out by the Executive 

 Committee this very point was under discussion, and we took the ground then that 

 according to the use that was usually made of it a tomatoe must be regarded as a 

 vegetable. Hence it was excluded from the prize list. 



Mr. Dempset. — I have seen persons using potatoes as vegetables, and under the 

 same head they would be counted as fruit. 



Mr. Graham. — Is there not one variety of tomatoe used specially for preserving 

 purposes ? 



Mr. Bucke. — I think the Solanum has always been classed as( a fruit. 



Prof. Saunders. — That tomatoe, however, is too small for cooking purposes. It 

 would be too troublesome to handle, but it must come in under the general head of 

 vegetable, although usually eaten in the raw state. 



The President. — I think we might decide the question one way or the other, 

 for the sake of the parties interested. 



Prof. Saunders. — To facilitate matters, I would move : " That in the opinion 

 of this convention tomatoes, although botanically a fruit, should be regarded, on 

 account of the uses to which they are put, as vegetables." 



Mr. Dempset seconded this resolution, and it was adopted. 



ORGANIZATION.' 



Mr. P. C. Dempset. — It has occurred to me that it is very necessary this con- 

 vention should be changed into a Dominion Association — the Dominion Association 

 of Fruit Growers — and thei-efore I would move, without saying anything further, 

 that a committee oii permanent organization be appointed to consider this matter 

 and to report to-morrow morning. 



Mr. Brodie seconded the resolution. 



After a short discussion this motion was adopted. 



Plant Parasites, with special RErERENOE to those affecting the Grape, bt 

 Prof. J. Hotes Panton, M.A., P.G.S., Ontario Agricultural College, Guelph. 



Mr. President and Gentlemen, — I am much pleased to have the opportunity of 

 standing before you this afternoon, and for a short time trying to interest you, and 

 to some extent instruct you, along the line of obscure plant lile. I was very much 

 pleased with the remarks of the Hon. Minister of Agriculture yesterday afternoon, 

 when he said that he hoped the time was not far distant when he would hear more 

 of agricultural science in the schools. The plan he suggested of having a talk once 

 or twice in the week, say an hour spent for that purpose, I think was a most 

 enjoyable one. The great difficulty at the present time is to have teachers that are 

 able to do that ; but I believe that difficulty will, to a considerable extent, soon be 

 obviated. I know that there will be a text book on Agricultural Science soon in the 

 common schools of Ontario, for it is now in press. When the teachers get that, and 

 make this subject one of study, I can scarcely realize anything more interesting to a 

 band of scholars than that a teacher for a portion of an afternoon take up and discuss 

 some subject along the line of agricultural science. I am here to-day to give a talk 

 upon some parasites, and it may afford a sample of the way in which a person could 



