73 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



naire. lie was followed by Mr. E. 'SI. Potter, of Kalamazoo, who read the fol- 

 lowing paper. 



It is said that in most foreign countries, and especially iti Europe, a youth 

 is educated for a special occupation, and liis eminent fitness for it depends 

 mucli upon his oneness of purpose and the tenacity with which he holds to the 

 true principles and practice of his profession. In n)ost cases tliis is his best 

 and chief heritage, and so much so that often when adverse circumstances 

 come his lack of adaptation renders his capital stock partially useless. And 

 although the emigrant may land at Castle Garden a skilled craftsman of a 

 special art, he soon sees enougli of the adjustablencss of the Yankee so that 

 when he gets a little furtlier west he will tell you he can do "anything you 

 may plaze, sir." 



This prominent characteristic of our native-born citizens, namely, the abil- 

 ity to adapt one's self to circumstances, has had much to do with the devel- 

 opment of our country, and wliile the foreigner wonders at this general adap- 

 tation he is also greatly amused at the jierfect adjustability of our language 

 and the way we use it. 



Tlie Frenchman said when he came to America and 'went into a store, if 

 they told liim the goods were "cheap" they were always "dear ;" and when he 

 took dinner at the hotel if he called for "deer" ho always got "sheep." Wiien 

 our neighbor goes into a speculation and his profits are large we say, "JSTow he 

 is well fixed," whereas if he lose.s heavily we sav, "Tliat last trade just fixed 

 him." 



Now I have not been told just in what sense we are to consider this word 

 "fixity" at this time, but I apprehend tliat it is intended to refer more par- 

 ticularly to concentration of effort, and in tiiis light we propose to consider it 

 for a few moments, and in doing tiiis we shall endeavor to show also how 

 resources are often wasted. I am confident tliat the true principle of success 

 is in not undertaking to do more than we can do well, and while one may be 

 able to accomplish more than another even with no greater resources outside 

 of his own management, wo may profit periiaps in searching for the deficien- 

 cies. The very first preliminary of any legitimate enterprise should be a care- 

 ful "' inventory of stock," embracing the resources and facilities of all descrip- 

 tions necessary to the business, wliethcr iu be money, physical, or nervous 

 power, available labor, material, or markets, and if this "account of stock" 

 must be partially estimated let it be under rather tlian overestimated. A little 

 surplus cai)ital is always convenient and a wonderful stimulant to good plan- 

 ning and ellicicnt work. 



One may spread his butter on so large a slice of bread as to be almost insen- 

 sible of its whereabouts. So with human eifort and capital, and yet he who 

 is always planning and never working will fail to accomplish much. What 

 we urge is the proper combination of intelligent purpose and industrious enter- 

 prise. "A little farm well tilled" is far better than a whole section half 

 worked, and we pity the man who never sees any prospect of enjoyment until 

 he "owns all that joins him," and at the same time suffers the burdocks to 

 bloom in his door-yard. 



We are indeed sorry for the boy who is compelled to milk four or live half- 

 fed cows when one or two well cared for would yield just as much milk and 

 not torment the boy half as much. We commiserate the man who lounges 

 away the winter and then tries to compensate by rawing wood before breakfast 

 during the hot summer, llow sad is the condition of the overworked house- 

 wife whose wearv arms must bring the fuel from the woods or fence corners to 



