CCxl PROCEEDINGS OF THE 'rOYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



scale. The same with regard to some of the apple-trees I see here. It 

 is, no doubt, a difficult thing for an old country like this, but you see 

 how it was done in British Columbia — we nipped it in the bud and 

 stopped it at the right time, and I believe that with the regulations 

 they are carrying out now British Columbia will be kept clean. 



I cannot sit down without thanking the Council and Officers for 

 the kindly way in which you have provided for this Exhibition. Such 

 exhibitions are of immense importance, not only to the Colonies, but 

 also to the Mother Country, because they bring people from all parts 

 of the Empire together. There is nothing better than showing the 

 fruit of a country; it reminds one of home, sitting under one's own 

 fig-tree; we cannot invite you to do that, but we can invite you to sit 

 under our apple and pear trees in British Columbia — and you will 

 very often be glad of the shade. Someone mentioned the climate. 

 I have a letter from a friend in Victoria dated a month ago saying: 

 that they heard we had rather a bad season in London. He said, 

 " this is the seventy-ninth day in Victoria that we have been without 

 rain, except a few drops on two or three days ; we should have liked 

 a little more, but still our crops are good, and we shall be able to make 

 a good show this year. ' ' I might add that the island of Vancouver 

 does not grow quite such brilliantly coloured fruit as some places on 

 the mainland ; but that little island can grow — I was going to say — the 

 best quality in the world, but I will say equal to the very best grown 

 in England. They can grow strawberries, and they are the only 

 people in the world who grow strawberries equal to your English 

 strawberries. I remember many years ago, when in New York, hear- 

 ing the great Beecher, after he had paid a visit to England, preaching 

 sermons on his trip to England; and he said, " For the first time 

 in my life I ate a strawberry, and it was grown in England." 



I thank you for the kind way in which you have received the 

 toast ; and I hope measures will be taken to ensure in future a repre- 

 sentation from all the Provinces of Canada and the other Colonies 

 of this great Empire. 



" Prosperity to the Eoyal Horticultural Society." 

 The Mayor of Westminster : T am greatly to be envied in pro- 

 posing this toast, I think; because, whatever controversy is raging 

 outside, this toast is quite uncontroversial ; and however feebly I propose 

 it, I am quite certain it will be received with the greatest pleasure. It 

 is hardly necessary to propose " Success to this Society " ; for does 

 it not succeed? But it has been my good fortune to be connected 

 with this Society for some time; and I must say that it is simply 

 extraordinary how gardening, as taught by this Society, has caught 

 hold upon all ranks and classes of the people. I know the enormous 

 amount of work the Society has done and is doing every day to foster 

 the love of gardening, and I think it is not too much to say that the 

 whole Empire is richer to-day for these efforts. Anyone who has any 

 knowledge of gardening will endorse my words. The appearance of 



