awarded a numbei- of medals ; and, as I mentioned also, the exhibit of fruit sent to 

 the Indian and Colonial Exhibition astonished the world. There were millions of 

 people who attended that exhibition, and they wei-e surprised at the exhibit of fruit 

 from Canada. I only hope, gentlemen, that you will spare no etfoi-t to produce first- 

 class fruits in the Dominion. "We have many different climates in Canada and I trust 

 that in a very short time varieties of apples as well as well as other fruits may be 

 found suitable to all of them. I am quite sure we will be successful with the small 

 fruits, aud I think that apples may be grown in the IS'orth-West in the same way that 

 they are grown in Eussia some six or seven hundred milesfurther north than we are 

 at Eegina. We may not be successful at first, but we are making the effort, and all 

 kinds of fruit trees are being experimented with at the Central Farm near Ottawa, 

 and also at the farm in the Maritime Provinces, at ISTappan, at Brandon, and at the 

 farm at Indian Head, in the North-West Territories, and also at the farm in British 

 Columbia. With this vast extent of country in which all varieties of climate are 

 represented, we ai'e testing trees in great variety from many other countries. 

 Prof. Saunders is in communication with the principal fruit growing countries in 

 the world, and we are experimenting with seeds from India, with trees from Eussia, 

 fromGermany and from Japan. Apple trees that have been successful in JSTorthern 

 Eussia have been brought out and are succeeding in the Western States, and I think 

 that by continuing this line of work we shall succeed in finding fruits which will 

 stand the climate of our north-west. I think we have been successful in bringing 

 out a wheat, called the Ladoga wheat, from ISTorthern Eussia. That wheat has been 

 successful. (Applause.) It has been clearly demonstrated that it will ripen about 

 ten days earlier than the Eed Fife wheat. So far as we can learn it is equal in 

 quality to the Eed Fife but ; supposing it should not be quite equal, the advantage 

 of having it ripen ten days earlier is a matter of very great importance in the North- 

 West. (Hear, hear.) With this acquisition, and if we can produce apples and such 

 fruit as I have mentioned in the ISTorth-West, 1 think it will be worth the expen- 

 diture that has been made in connection with our Bxpei-imental Farms. (Hear, 

 hear, and applause.) These experiments are being honestly made by competent 

 men, as I said before. We have been careful in selecting the very best men we could 

 get in the country to take charge of the different branches, and they are conducting 

 this work; and we have at the head of these Experimental Farms a gentleman in 

 whom all those who have come in contact with him have confidence, and I am 

 sure the country has confidence in him. (Hear, hear.) With these experiments 

 .honestly conducted and carried out they must be of vast benefit to all sections of the 

 country, from ocean to ocean. (Applause.) Gentlemen, I do not know that I should 

 take up your time any longer, aud I thank you for the honour you have done me in 

 asking me to open this meeting. The Dairy Convention has been successful and 

 there is every appearence, from the size of the Fruit Growers Convention, that your 

 gathering will be equally successful. I have no more to say, beyond declaring that 

 this convention is now open, and I wish you every success. (Loud applause.) 



THE CHAIEMAN'S ADDEESS. 



The Chairman, Prof. D. P. Penhallow, of Montreal, then delivered his opening: 

 address, as follows : — jr- & 



To the Honourable the Minister of Agriculture and Members of the Convention : 



Gentlemen,— Before proceeding to deal with these subjects which more inti- 

 mately bear upon the special work of this important convention, which, as presiding 

 oflScer, it falls to my lot to present to you, I venture to congratulate you all upon 

 the successful issue of these efforts which have been directed towards brino-iiig you 

 together at this time and place, and under circumstances which render thislhe most 

 important movement ever instituted in the Dominion of Canada for the purpose of 

 promoting our yqvj large and increasing fruit industry. 



