CONFERENCE ON FRUIT GROWING. 



75 



to the questions put to them. No doubt many of the questions put to 

 them might be cleared up by the experience gained in another fruit district, 

 but there would be some questions which would require very careful 

 research and experiment if you are to arrive at a true solution. During 

 the last few days, while listening to the remarks of the speakers, one heard 

 it pointed out that there were certain fruits which would be best for 

 commercial purposes — both Pears and Apples ; but in the course of the 

 discussion another speaker very rightly observed that a certain variety 

 which would be most profitable in one district would very likely fail in 

 another. That is one of the points which could probably be cleared up 

 by the travelling experts gaining experience in different districts. Then 

 it was stated that for real commercial profit there was a distinct advantage 

 in growing large " blocks " of one variety of Apple ; at the same time it 

 was pointed out that it was desirable to plant amongst these " blocks " 

 other varieties in order that fertilisation might be perfect, and that that 

 procedure was fraught with good results. 



It is evident that particular varieties must blossom at the same time, 

 but I cannot help thinking, that to decide what particular Apple-tree 

 it is best to plant in a plantation where the main portion is of another 

 sort, is a matter for very careful consideration and experiment. And re- 

 member, your experimental department would not have to wait while their 

 plantations grew up. because they would be able to try experiments with 

 blossoms from other varieties and so be able shortly afterwards to give 

 authoritative decisions as to the best varieties to grow together as far as the 

 fertilisation of the blossoms, largeness of production, and other points are 

 concerned. That would come under the experimental department. Then 

 we have been told about various manures and ingredients. I cannot help 

 thinking that had there been an experimental department we should have 

 known long ago what were the best materials to use considering the 

 particular objects we were aiming at. 



But what I wanted more particularly to draw attention to was the 

 information department, because it is the connection between theory and 

 practice — the theory which has to be worked into results by the practical 

 man. Foreign governments have devoted a great deal of money and r 

 organisation to solving certain questions which are of great importance 

 to various trades — not only to the fruit trade — questions in which men, 

 actually engaged in the business, perhaps have neither the time nor 

 perhaps the money to carry out full and comprehensive experiments. In 

 England, for a great many centuries, we have rather gone on the principle 

 that men engaged in a particular business or trade will thresh out for 

 themselves the difficulties connected with their trade, on the ground that 

 it would not only strengthen their character, but would be better in the 

 long run. That was all very well in the past, but now that foreign 

 governments are stepping in and giving such an advantage to their pro- 

 ducers, I think the proposal to start an experimental farm is likely to 

 produce good results, especially if we keep steadily in mind the fact that 

 it is entirely a matter of business. 



Mr. Spencer Pickering, F.R.S. (Director of the Woburn Experi- 

 mental Fruit Farm), read the first paper. He said : Some years ago 

 a party of farmers, who had come from a distance to see the experimental 



