12 



question if this convention should not consider some means by which any local 

 necessity of fruit could be met by the surplusage of other Provinces , rather than 

 from a foreign country. . 



In the list of imported fi'esh fruits there are doubtless some— excluding, _ot 

 course, oranges, lemons and other sub-tropical fruits — which cannot be raised m 

 sufficient quantity to meet the demands; but this is not true of the majority. On- 

 tario can raise as good small fruits as New York, and so should British Columbia, 

 and with a good soil and highly favoured localities for fruit culture I consider that 

 our present import of $132,000 should not only be offset by an increasing pro- 

 duction, but be turned to an export. With the enormous population there is to the 

 south of us, with our relatively very small population, and with our ability to pro- 

 duce ffuit, there should be no question of import at all. I would, therefore, com- 

 mend to your earnest consideration the adoption of means looking to this end. 



Among other questions to be presented to your consideration will be those 

 relating to disease and the ravages of insect enemies; the decline of orchard culture 

 in districts where formerly it was a profitable pursuit; and the extension of 

 orchards into those parts of the country where they are demanded by the rapid 

 growth of population. Poi-tunately for the progress of the fruit industry in Canada, 

 the Department of Agriculture, through its experimental farms, is pushing forward 

 a most valuable work in this direction, and we may confidently look for results in 

 the future which will be of the most important character. 



Having thus brought before you some of the most prominent of the questions 

 to be discussed here, I will not further detain you from the important work of this 

 session, but will declare the Convention open, and ask you to give to its proceedings 

 that close and undivided attention that its importance demands. 



HORTICURTURAL WORK OF THE EXPERIMENTAL FaRMS. 



Prof W. Saunders addressed the convention on "Horticultural Work at the 

 Central Experimental Farm." He said: Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, — I am very 

 much pleased indeed to have an opportunity of appearing before this important con- 

 vention of fruit growers to say a few words in connection with the work of the 

 Experimental Farm as .far as that work bears upon the important subject of horti- 

 culture. 1 realize the value and importance of such' associations as these when I 

 recall what good work the Fruit Growers' Associations have done in this country in 

 the way of advancing the fruit interests. Although not a very old man, my memory 

 carries me back to the time when, shortly after the Fruit Growers' Association of 

 Ontario was organized, and before it received any Government aid, I remember 

 what a struggle we had from year to year when we had no resources but the fees of 

 the few members who paid theii- dollar or two doUai-s a year. How difficult it was 

 to make ends meet and to keep up interest in the association at that timn and to 

 carry on the useful work which was contemplated. It may not be generally known 

 to the members, but I think it is a matter which is worthy of mention on this occa- 

 sion that it was the Hon. Mr. Carling, who now stands at the head of the Agricultural 

 Department of this country, who incorporated the Fruit Growers' Association of 

 Ontario and got for it the first grant of money which it received — $500. (Applause.) I 

 remember receiving a letter from him then — I was president of the Entomological 

 Society at that time — in which he suggested that our society should organize under 

 the Agriculture and Arts Act of Ontario, promising a grant of $400. At that time 

 the Act was being introduced by the honourable gentleman. It was giving these grants 

 to the Entomological and Horticultural Societies which started them in their career of 

 usefulness, and that work has gone on ever since, to the great advantage of the whole 

 community, not only in Ontario, but in the Dominion of Canada. The reports which 

 they have printed and circulated from time to time have found their way over the 

 whole country, and they have had a great effect in advancing the interests of fruit 

 culture and improving the character of the fruit grown, and placing us in a position, 

 as fruitgrowers, of commanding the respect and confidence of the markets of the world 



