TRANSACTIONS OF GALBSBURG HORTICTJLTURAL SOCIETY. 367 



same — also run irregularly. On account of the shape of the earth's orbit 

 the sun remains seven days longer, in each year, north of the equator 

 than south, the north being consequently the warmer. In about thirteen 

 thousand years this state of things will be reversed. Another cause is 

 evaporation, there being more evaporation south than north of the 

 equator, making it consequently colder. The coasts of California and 

 Oregon are, owing to the Gulf stream, much warmer than the same lati- 

 tude in Japan. From the same cause the Atlantic coast is colder than 

 the Pacific by ten degrees. Among other climatic influences is variety 

 of surface and soil, as well as high mountains and forests. In relation 

 to uniformity of climate, Arago says that, for the last thirty centuries, 

 Palestine has enjoyed a uniform climate of seventy or seventy-one degrees. 

 This is not so, however, in Western Europe, where horticultural pursuits 

 flourish ; the fact being that uniformity of climate in a country is no 

 indication of its adaptability to horticulture. England is in some respects 

 better adapted to horticulture than America. They have better lawns. 

 One cause is their larger supply of moisture, and the absence of our 

 scorching heat. In Paris they also have better facilities for watering their 

 lawns and trees. There are certain causes which produce climatic changes, 

 and no climate is adapted to horticulture that does not possess the condi- 

 tions mentioned. 



Dr. Humphrey thought the subject under discussion a very important 

 one, especially in this region, where a large number of persons make horti- 

 culture a pursuit — a means of gaining a livelihood. Climate affects the 

 interests of these people from the growing of orchards down to the small- 

 fruits. This is especially true of the latter. Some varieties of strawberries 

 will not grow here at all, while they flourish in the East. Again, other 

 kinds are grown here with success. The successful growth of raspberries 

 and blackberries seems to be confined to special pieces of soil that possess 

 the proper conditions. Success in horticulture does not depend wholly on 

 the soil ; heat and moisture also being essential. In illustrating, the Doctor 

 stated that Humboldt, in his investigations, found among the mountains 

 plants common to all climates — those usually found in the warm coun- 

 tries at the foot of the mountain, those common to the temperate zone 

 farther up the side, and those indigenous to the colder climate near the 

 top. The climatic influences prove that to be successful in horticulture 

 requires a divided industry. No person may expect to succeed by the 

 cultivation of a particular kind of fruit. There should be a variety, that 

 some may succeed each year. Heat and moisture, being essential, should 

 be supplied artificially, if no natural supply can be had. Plants have a 

 regular development which requires particular conditions to complete. 



Dr. Bateman, being called upon, said he came to listen and not to 

 talk. It is true, though a somewhat painful fact, that people, if they 

 would amount to much, must in a sense be specialists. This is true, 

 because if one would know much of a particular subject he must devote a 

 life-time to the study of it. It is painful because of the narrowing of the 

 mind sure to follow the study of a speciality. The Doctor mentioned the 

 feelings of sadness with which he always found himself in a large librar\ — 



