S5 



Mr. Allan. — I would make this further remark, which I think is a very im- 

 portant point, which comes up in the consideration of this resolution and it is this : 

 A point was mentioned here before that American apples are purchased by Cana- 

 dian shippers. These are shipped through here by American shippers and ar» sent 

 on to Great Britain as Canadian apples, and receive a much higher price as Canadian 

 apples than they would as American a])ple.-i. Now, these duties would, to a large 

 extent, if not entirely, obviate the difiiculty, and I look upon this point as an im- 

 portant one. 



The President here read the resolutions. 



Prof. Smith. — The Nova Scotia Association passed a unanimous vote against the 

 imposition of the duties. I happened to be present when the resolution was passed. 

 The resolutions set up that the re-imposition of the duties would be of the greatest 

 injury to the tVuit growers of Nova Scotia. 



Mr. Peters. — It seems to me that a resolution so important as this can well 

 afford to lie on the table till next session. There ai e questions involved in that 

 which will largely affect New Brunswick, and questions which I would like a little 

 time to consider. 1 do not think an ill result will follow deferring the matter, 

 because I think the question is of very great importance. I can very well under- 

 stand the view of the gentlemen of Ontario, but there is one thing — if that resolution 

 was passed it would very largely affect the Maritime interests, particularly New 

 Brunswick. At the present time, in New Brunswick, we are shipping eight or nine 

 thousand dollars worth of strawberries to Portland and Boston, and if there was an 

 imposition of the duty we would be shutting ourselves out of these markets, and 

 thrown on our own local markets. 1 think we should defer this matter, and consult 

 with the delegates from the different Provinces and compare notes before taking a 

 vote. I should feel very much better, and be able to give an intelligent reason for 

 my vote. I move that the matter be deferred until the evening session. 



The Chairman suggested to the mover of the resolution that the matter be 

 deferred until the evening session. 



The Convention adjourned until 8 p.m. 



Evening Session. 



Thursday, 20th February, 1890. 

 The Convention resumed at 8 o'clock. 



The President. — The first paper that I will call for is one that was left over 

 from the morning session — "Fruit Culture in New Brunswick," by Mr. S. L. Peters, 

 of Queenstown. 



Mr. Peters. — I regret to say, Mr. President, that Mr. F. P. Sharpe, of Woodstock, 

 one of the delegates, who was invited to attend the Convention in the interest of 

 the Province of New Brunswick, was not able to come, on account of sickness in his 

 family, so that I am here alone. 



Fruit Culture in New Brunswick. 



It is my purpose, so far as I may be able to give the gentlemen who are 

 present at this coiwention of fruit growers, a plain statement of our present 

 position in Fruit Culture. I could wish that an abler pen had undertaken the task, 

 but having been delegated by my fellow-citizens to represent this interest at the 

 present meeting, I trust I may be pardoned for intruding my observations, and 

 to some extent my personal opinions and experience, on the distinguished body of 

 gentlemen present who compose this convention. It is only within the last thirty 

 years that New Brunswick orchardists have began to pay much attention to the 

 cultivation of improved or grafted fruit. Previous to that time we were content to 

 grow and use the common seedling apple produced fiom trees which sprang up in 

 our fields and from thence transplanted to what was then known as the orchard. 

 In some cases the fruit possessed merit, and when this occurred the kind was often 



