STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 11D 



specialist, the expert specialist, "The specialist, both born and 

 educated. " 



When Prussia found a " Krupp," she took possession of him 

 and gave him to the life work, for which, by both nature and 

 training, he proved to be so eminently fitted, and left the venture 

 of finding another Krupp to some one with less foresight than 

 Von Bismark, and in this matter we should wisely profit by 

 their experience. 



We recognize the importance which attaches to a knowledge 

 of the fact that we have many varieties of soil, and that a better 

 knowledge of this is possible, and advisable, and Ave admit that 

 but few of our people are prepared to enter into chemical tests 

 of the composition of these soils, and that this our stations can, 

 and ought to do, and are doing, and by which knowledge the 

 enterprising and industrious farmer will be enabled to maintain,, 

 or to renew the fertility of his soil. 



We know also that in the study of rusts, smuts, blights, rots, 

 mildews, etc., etc., and in the control of these, and of injurious 

 insects our stations are making great progress, and further that 

 the most careful tests are now in progress, which are destined to 

 show the difference in the value of the different breeds of our 

 domestic animals of the same species, for the different uses of 

 man. Also to show the effect of the use of different kinds of 

 food, and of the same kinds of food in different conditions, as 

 to its results in the production of meat, of milk, of wool, etc., 

 as well as its digestibility. 



But of all the many experiments that come in the line of work 

 for our general experiment stations, none is so difficult for them, 

 or yet so tedious or slow of results as those that pertain to fruit 

 growing, to the originating or producing of new varieties by 

 cross fertilization, (or otherwise, as it is indeed already claimed 

 to be possible to improve old varieties by selection, culture, 

 etc.,) and the testing of new varieties after being produced. In 

 the whole study and practice of horticulture, difficulties and 

 problems, (old and new), continue to present themselves, such 

 as our general experiment stations can hardly ever hope to solve; 

 problems that can better and more surely be worked out by our 

 born and educated specialists — possibly I should say fruit — cranks. 



The peculiarities of the results of location, and that without 

 any evident effect of the character of either the soil or forma- 

 tion, does and will continue to confront us, and to thwart in a 

 a great measure our efforts in the future as it has done in the 

 past. And yet, (without being able to tell the reason why), we 

 are compelled to admit that this peculiarity does exist, and that 

 Ave haA r e no right to ignore the fact, and could not if Ave avouM. 



Some have learned — and it is someAvhat strange that thousands 

 have not learned ere this — that it is of no practical value, (and 

 practical A r alues should be our aim), for us to knoAv that Bald- 



