MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS. 325 



The world's typical great men are those who have lived nobly and 

 truly while working for[['others. Not he who is the most talked of by 

 the public or press, or by the world, but he who has done the most to 

 inspire in others a nobler manhood and womanhood. Not he who has 

 the largest bank account, but he whose bank account has done the 

 most helpful deeds for others. Character is more than achievement, 

 and he truly lives who, putting wealth of some sort into his life, brings 

 out of it for himself richness of character. To do and be and dare all 

 for humanity and the world is a noble privilege; and, beginning on the 

 farm, our influence may widen and deepen until the effect of our 

 character is felt to the ends of the earth. This is now and ever will be 

 the privilege of the farmer and his family, and in the evolution of 

 character which gives life to a great nation, our farmer boys and girls 

 will yet occupy the most brilliant positions in the world's history. 



Fertilization of Orcliards. 



By G . W. Hopkins, Springfield. 



The question of fertilizers is one in which all who expect to reap 

 advantages from the products of the soil ought to feel a deep interest. 

 The time was when our land was new and soil virgin ; it was not nec- 

 essary to give the subject of manuring our soil any thought whatever. 

 Nature had provided in the soil all the essential elements for the suc- 

 cessful growing of whatever kind of crops we might desire to produce. 



But after long years of exhaustive cropping, without returning 

 anything to the soil, these elements have been materially reduced, and 

 the soil so impoverished in many cases as to no longer produce remu- 

 nerative crops. 



All fruit-growers, farmers and tillers of the soil should have some 

 knowledge of the principles of chemistry (how few of us do). We 

 ought to be able to analyze both the soil and the plants, or trees, we 

 intend to grow. 



If we have the analysis of our soil and know what the plant ob- 

 tains from the air, we can compare these with the analysis of the plant 

 and know with some degree of certainty what to apply to the soil. 



Often certain elements are present, but are not in the proper com- 

 bination to be appropriated, and may be no more available than though 

 they were not in the soil at all. Too much of any one element of plant- 

 food is not only useless but often a detriment. 



And now to the question : When shall we apply fertilizers to our 

 orchards ? If the land is new, or of ordinary fertility, I don't think it 



