well for future reports. The varieties sent out were: Champion, Lee's, Naples, and Black Victoria. No fruiting could, of course, be expected from these this year.

THE GOOSEBERRY EXPERIMENT.

1. Prepare the land deeply and thoroughly, working in, if necessary, a liberal application of manure.

2. Set plants five feet apart each way, in one or more rows, as convenient.

3. Give clean, thorough cultivation until about the first of August, and never allow the soil to become crusted.

4. Look out for currant worms on the lower parts of the bushes soon after the leaves are fully grown. They may be destroyed by spraying with Hellebore (1 oz. to 3 gallons of water), or Paris green (1 oz. to 10 gallons of water).

5. Whitesmith. is subject to mildew. This may to a great extent be prevented by spraying with potassium sulphide (1 oz. in 2 or 3 gallons of water.) It should be applied early in the season, just as the buds are swelling, and five or six times afterwards, at intervals of ten days or two weeks.

6. Prune early every spring. A good method of pruning is to leave six branches to form the bush, then keep up a renewal of new wood by cutting out, every year, two of the oldest branches, and allowing two strong new ones to take their place. Cut out all other new canes, and shorten back the new wood left nearly one-half.

7. Carefully weigh and record the weight of the crop from each variety, and report as soon as possible after the fruiting season.

For the gooseberry experiment the varieties sent out were: Downing, Pearl, Red Jacket, and Whitesmith. Of the thirty-nine experimenters who received plants last spring, twenty-six have reported this fall. On the whole, the planting of these has been very successful, the chief failures being among the plants of the Whitsmith. This is one of the English varieties, which is naturally less vigorous than the other varieties.

Sixty-two reports were received on the bushes sent out previous to this year. The varieties vary more or less in different sections, but on the whole Pearl is the favorite variety, because of its good size and great productiveness. Downing comes next, and is much like Pearl. Red Jacket and Whitesmith rank next, in the order named. Both of these produce much larger berries than the other two, but are not so productive, and in some places the Whitesmith is reported to have been badly mildewed. very seldom attacks the other varieties.

VALUABLE FEATURES OF THIS CO-OPERATIVE WORK.

This disease

In conclusion, we may add that the greatest value of this co-operating testing is not seen in the brief summary presented at this annual meeting, but it naturally accrues to the men who carry on the work on their own farms. The following might be mentioned as a few of the ways in which this work is doing good:

1. Through our distribution many are getting a start in the growing of small fruits, who would probably never have made a start had the plants not been given them.

2. The cultural directions furnished afford a means of College extension work, which is enabling growers to begin right.

3. The varieties sent out are those which have been found by repeated tests at the College and our Fruit Experiment Stations to be the most likely to prove satisfactory.

4. From the plants furnished, the experimenter may, if he wishes, soon propagate enough to set out a good-sized plantation.

5. The experience and information gained in properly conducting one of these tests is an education well worth the effort required.

W. A. McKinnon, Ottawa: I should like to call the attention of the Union to what was the key-note of the Fruit Growers' Association meeting at Leamington. It was co-operation for the advancement of the well-being of the fruit industry of Ontario. There is no more fitting place to urge the claims of co-operative work than before this

Union. I should like to say in what respects the fruit-growers may co-operate, and in what respects the farmers who are fruit growers may improve their returns. First, they may co-operate in the purchase of trees in order to secure the best varieties for their respective sections; second, in the methods o cultivation, pruning and spraying; and, third, in the purchase of power outfits, by which, it is safe to say, the returns from an apple orchard alone would be increased fifty per cent. annually. Co-operation will secure a uniform product as regards quality. Then, by the adoption of the central packinghouse idea, the fruit can be graded and packed alike, and assorted in large shipments. Much better return would then be secured on the British market, for the reason that buyers could obtain as many barrels as they wanted of the varieties they desired.

CO-OPERATIVE EXPERIMENTS IN FORESTRY.

By Roland D. Craig, B.S.A., F.E., Director of Cooperative Experiments in Forestry, Pasadena, Cal.

Resolution: The following resolution wa moved by Mr. Nelson Monteith, ex-M.P. P., Stratford, Ontario, and seconded by Mr. Ernest C. Drury, Crown Hill, Ontario, and carried, at the Annual Meeting of the Experimental Union, held in December,

1902:

"The Experimental Union, recognizing the urgent necessity for action in the reforesting of the waste lands throughout Old Ontario, would recommend that the Department of Crown Lands be requested to provide material sufficient to re-forest areas sufficiently large to provide forest conditions in typical situations throughout Ontario, the Union undertaking to supervise the distribution."

Report on Resolution: After the last annual meeting of the Experimental Union, the resolution passed at the meeting was forwarded to the Hon. E. J. Davis, Minister of Crown Lands for Ontario. Soon afterwards the Secretary of the Union received a private letter from the Crown Lands Department, stating that the resolution would receive their best consideration. Nothing has been heard in reference to the matter since receiving the letter here referred to.

It is with much regret that I find it impossible to attend the annual meeting of the Experimental Union, and I trust that it may be as profitable and enjoyable this year as those of former years which I have been permitted to attend.

It is to be regretted that, owing to the lack of encouragement given to the Committee on Forestry, it has been unable to carry on the work outlined in the last report, and the Committee has to make another appeal to the Experimental Union and to the Government for aid.

Last year the Committee asked for means to supply farmers with working plans for their woodlots, and to establish a nursery to supply plant material where planting was advisable. The Minister of Agriculture gave but slight encouragement for the establishment of a nursery on the Ontario Agricultural College property, and it was suggested that the Department of Crown Lands be asked to supply a site in the woods of Northern Ontario. Mr. Southworth was very willing to do so, but he could find no one experienced in nursery practice to manage a nursery if established. Those who suggested putting the nursery in the backwoods evidently mistook the policy of the Experimental Union, and expected it to undertake the reforestation of the lumber districts of Ontario, rather than the encouraging of woodlots on the farms. To repeat the suggestion of last year, the Experimental Union will find enough to do in its own sphere without attempting to reforest the Crown Lands. The Union is an agricultural organization, and its efforts should be for the farmers before the lumbermen.

Our object should be to improve and increase the forested area in our agricultural districts, in order, first, to supply fuel, posts, and other forms of wood useful on the farm; second, for the conservation of water; third, for protection from wind, lightning,

etc.

Most people recognize the value of forests, but not of forestry; they see the evil effects of denudation, but have never considered the possibility or advisability of restoring former conditions by artificial means. It remains with us to show them that such a thing is, first, advisable, and then that it is possible. Forestry has been one of the subjects discussed at the Farmers' Institutes for some years, and should be made a still more prominent feature in the meetings in order that the advisability of cultivating forests may be demonstrated. But what the Experimental Union should do is to prove by actual experiment that practical forestry is possible on an Ontario farm.

In the United States any farmer, upon making application to the Bureau of Forestry, can have his woodlot examined and a working plan made for it. At very little expense, a member of this committee could visit woodlots throughout the Province, and advise the owners as to the management.

In many cases, natural reproduction is not sufficient, nor of the proper kind, and planting will have to be resorted to. At present, it is almost impossible to procure plant material for forest planting, because many nurserymen rear seedlings only for ornamental purposes, and expect fancy prices. It is, therefore, almost necessary that a nursery be established, from which to supply farmers with plant material free, or at a nominal price. Thee requisites for such a nursery are :

1. Suitable soil and climate.

2. Skilled management.

3. Facilities for shipping easily and quickly to all parts of the Province.

4. That it be located so that it may be used for instruction and demonstration to the farmers of Ontario.

Northern Ontario could undoubtedly furnish suitable soil and climate, but it is doubtful if the timber-jacks would be capable of taking care of a nursery, or if shipping facilities would be as good as in a more central place, and certainly the last very important feature would be entirely lost.

Guelph is particularly well suited for such a nursery, and surely two or three acres might be spared from the 550 acres belonging to the College.

The use of "pulled" seedlings from the woods was suggested at the last annual meeting, but experience has shown that this practice is a failure, for several reasons, viz,:

1. Seedlings grown in the shady and sheltered woods have their organs for transpiration, assimilation, etc., developed for that condition, and when brought out to a light, exposed place, are unable to cope with the new conditions, and die.

2. Their root system grows long and spreading, so it is almost impossible to pull them without greatly injuring the roots.

3. It is so difficult to pull them, and they grow so scattered in the woods that, in the end, it is cheaper to grow them from seed in a nursery.

Canada is certainly very slow in realizing the importance of forestry, as one sees when comparing the forestry departments of Germany and the United States. The Bureau of Forestry alone spends $375,000 annually, besides the many thousands spent by the individual States in the protection and investigation of the forests. The State of California has voted $15,000 for two years' investigations, the Bureau of Forestry duplicating this amount. I merely mention this to show that it would not be unreasonable to expect the Ontario Government to grant $500 for the protection and improvement of the farmers' woodlots.

In conclusion, let me ask every member of the Union to cooperate with the Committee on Forestry by voting for a resolution asking the Government to establish a forest nursery at the Ontario Agricultural College, and a grant of $500 for its maintenance and for inspection of woodlots.

Mr. E. C. Drury: I think that our motion of last year has been somewhat misunderstood. That motion did not contemplate the reforesting of Crown Lands to the north. The intention was this: There are acres and acres of waste land scattered among the farming land in some parts of Simcoe County, and in other counties. It is not of much value agriculturally, but it was once covered with a good crop of small pine. This land was cut over carelessly and burned, the means of reforestation were destroyed, and much of it is now entirely waste. These areas could be reforested with great advantage, and our motion was that the Government should allow us to experiment with one such area, in the hope of inducing the municipalities to take hold of the matter. I still think that this is a matter that is worth attention. In one other matter, I think the Union could do something, and that is in regard to the taxation of woodlots. I believe that in some municipalities a reduction of taxes is made on woodlots, but in many of the townships in the district where I live the woodlots are assessed for their value as land, plus the value of the timber, which is certainly a heavy burden on the man who leaves a woodlot, and the Union might well draw attention to the folly of such a system.

Mr. C. A. Zavitz: It will be difficult to carry out a project of this kind until we have a better home for forestry in Ontario. The committee itself is composed of men who are located in different parts of the continent. If we could locate a home of forestry at some definite point, with a permanent director and a committee to assist him, it seems to me that there would be an opportunity for some splendid work. I think that the move to establish a School of Forestry is in the right direction, and I move that a committee be appointed to make a recommendation on the subject for the meeting to take action upon.

After this resolution was seconded, a discussion took place as follows:

Mr. T. H. Mason: I think that the work of our forestry section should take two distinct lines. First, efforts should be made to induce the Provincial Department of Crown Lands to withdraw altogether from settlement those sections of the north country that are unsuited to agriculture, making such sections into forest reserves. By that means the errors of the past may be avoided in future. If the Government had done that in the back part of Addington, Hastings, and some other counties, it would have been far more profitable. We should also urge the desirability of reforesting sections in Old Ontario where the natural power of reforestation has been destroyed.

The second aim should be to arouse the farmers as to the desirability of properly preserving their woodlots.

Dr. W. H. Muldrew: I have taken a live interest in the subject in a practical way for some years. I should like to refer to the cost of providing seedling trees for farmers. Last year in the State of New York a large number of pine seedlings were grown and planted out. They cost the purchaser at the State nurseries half a cent each. I obtained a box of these seedlings from Prof. Gifford, and we planted them in the school grounds at Gravenhurst. If any of the members of the Union should visit that town, I hope they will go to the High School, and look up the small plot containing the two hundred pine trees which my pupils set out. So far, the results have been very gratifying. The little trees took root and grew rapidly, for it is well known that the pine will grow much more rapidly under cultivation than in the woods.

As to the regrowth of the pine, I have direct knowledge of a farm in Simcoe County where the second-growth pine sold from a portion of a fifty-acre farm netted $2,000. I suppose there are in Simcoe, and in every other county, hundreds of farms having considerable sandy land which is now going to waste, but which if planted with pine could be made to yield very profitable returns. I am very much in sympathy with what has been said as to the necessity for some centre for the forestry work. Mr. Mason: I had a ten-acre lot covered with second-growth pine, chestnut and cherry, which I sold last year at $200 an acre. It was eighty years old.

Prof. J. W. Gilmore, Cornell University: In New York State, we are making an effort to beautify the school grounds, and are interesting the scholars in the work. The children take a great interest in the work of planting trees and flowers and watching them grow. These things have an important bearing on the development of rural life, and in keeping the children interested therein. When once they have learned to appreciate these things at school, they will introduce them in the garden at home and into the farm life, and efforts will be made to beautify the farm home and improve its surroundings. If the committee having this matter in charge could get the work started in the schools and get the children interested in it, it would be a great feature.

R. R. Elliott, Owen Sound: The forestry question is a very important one, and in the interest of the country, it is time that something was done. The Union can help to do it by talking it up among the farmers, writing it up in the press, and getting people interested. Then something will be done.

Mr. J. H. Faul, University of Toronto: It was not until 1898 that the Forestry Act was passed by the Provincial Legislature, and the Government has not yet taken any steps towards preserving the forest lands in Ontario. However, Hon. Mr. Davis, Commissioner of Crown Lands, stated in an inter view recently that the policy of the future was that mature timber only should be removed, and that an attempt should be made towards reforesting. If the large area to the north of us, which is to conserve our water and timber supply, is to be properly cared for, it must be in the hands of foresters who have had careful, scientific training, and if the announcement of Mr. Davis meant anything, it meant the establishment of a School of Forestry, where competent men could be trained to deal with these questions. It is important also to give instruction and advice to the farmer in the conservation of his woodlot, and instruction to students of institutions such as this, so that they may deal intelligently with the matter on their own farms.

The resolution was carried by vote of the members.

The President then appointed Dr. W. H. Muldrew, N. M. Ross, and E. C. Drury a committee to consider the matter and report.

The committee presented the following resolution, which was adopted on the motion of Mr. Drury, seconded by Mr. T. G. Raynor :

"Whereas, in many sections of settled Ontario, the process of deforestation has been carried on far beyond the proportion between woodland and cleared land, shown by the experience of other countries to be necessary to the best maintenance of agricultural conditions, of climate and water supply;

"And, whereas, a very considerable proportion of lands thus deforested are totally unfit for agriculture, and, in consequence, are at present unproductive :

"And whereas, the feasibility of profitably maintaining such area of forest lands has been demonstrated in this Province;

"And whereas, the present method of taxing farm woodlands discourages their preservation;

"And whereas, the supply of wood products necessary for the general interests of the Province is rapidly diminishing;