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compete with California, Oregon, or any other country in the growing of certain 

 kinds of fruits, wlien we get fairly established; but the difficulty is that their fruit 

 matures much earlie'* than ours, they have been longer established in the industry, 

 they have the full benefits of their own markets, and then as soon as the glut comes 

 they send their surplus stock into our markets, which just meets our first fruit on 

 which the most money is to be made. 



This seems a special legislation against us. The Dominion Government have 

 gone to considerable expense in calling together this convention, and it is a good act, 

 one which we hope will be productive of much benefit to the fruit growers through- 

 out the Dominion. Now that they have called us together and learned our 

 grievance we expect they will do what they can to assist us to the best advantage. 



There are other drawbacks of a smaller nature, such as the accumulation 

 of moss on trees during the wet season, and some of the insect pests which bother 

 the apple tree; but these are easily disposed of We also occasionally hear com- 

 plaints of the bark splitting on plum and cherry trees. Again, there are seasons 

 when the weather keeps very warm and mild so late that the young fruit trees of all 

 varieties, keeping up a rapid tender growth, are caught suddenly by the first frosts 

 and killed back; in some cases the trees are killed entirely. But the most 

 destructive enemy we have is that which causes dead spots on our young apple trees. 

 These spots make their first appearance in early spring, and sometimes cause the 

 death of the young trees, by spreading all the way around it. The injury has 

 evidently been done the previous summer, but does not show itself until the bark 

 turns black the following spring. Sometimes these young trees have dozens of these 

 spots on them, and if the tree is not killed outright a great deal of injury is caused. ■ 

 This trouble has only been found in certain places, and does not seem to be general. 

 If the injury is not caused by the ravages of some insect, then the disease must be 

 contagious, for it is only when young trees are planted adjacent to other trees 

 aifected in the same way that we find them injured. Whatever the cause may be 

 it is a matter of the utmost importance to our orchardists that th» cause should be 

 learned, and the cure, if any. 



We now have in our midst an experimental farm carried on by the Government 

 under the supervision of Prof. Saunders, and through it we hope to receive much 

 benefit, for I believe one of the most important features is to be the testing of 

 fruit trees. 



In this paper I have tried to give you an idea of what has been done in fruit- 

 growing in British Columbia in the paist and what we hope to accomplish in the 

 future, if the Government will assist us in rectifying the present tariff; for we have 

 an association, made up of experienced fruit-growers, who will be continually 

 experimenting and disseminating information throughout the Province, whereby, 

 with knowledge we can push forward in our work, so that soon we may see our 

 fertile valleys and rich uplands covered with trees loaded with their precious fruits — 

 not only orchards of the apple, pear, plum and cherry, but the golden fruit of the 

 peach and apricot will be ripening in our gardens, a^id luscious grapes hanging in 

 tempting clusters in our vineyards, blessing us with the fruits of our own labours. 

 We hope many from these eastern Provinces will find their waj' across the vast 

 plains and wondrous mountains that divide us to that western slope towards the 

 great Pacific into a milder climate, where the warm Chinook winds have already 

 softened winter's cold breath and started vegetation into life, and there unite with 

 us in making British Columbia what she is destined to bo, one of the most profitable 

 fruit-growing countries in the world. 



Mr. Starratt, Nova Scotia. — I have listened with a good deal of interest to Mr. 

 Henry's paper. I consider it exceptionally interesting, and judging from the manner 

 in which the convention listened to it, it has been appreciated. I have no doubt 

 that Mr. Henry will make a success of fruit-growing in British Columbia. 



The President. — Our next paper will be by Mr. John Craig, but recently 

 appointed Horticulturist to the Centi'al Experimental Farm at Ottawa. The subject 

 is " Promising Cherries for Northern Latitudes." 



