262 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL 



in our hands, and so fixed by a benificent Creator, and the reve- 

 lation is already made that we have control of the production of 

 new and improved varieties of fruits. Only let us be judicious 

 in the selection of the varieties that will be most likely to bring 

 the results we wish to accomplish, and success is certain. The 

 process may be slow, but if we spend our whole lifetime in the 

 gradual changing of poor fruits into good ones, our work will be 

 successfully accomplished, and our children "will rise up and 

 call us blessed." 



And, in conclusion, let me urge upon every one who would 

 like to have more and better fruit of any name or denomination, 

 to begin this year to try experiments. Raise seedlings from the 

 best things you have at hand and in the right season. Try cross- 

 ing varieties, taking notes of all your operations, and my word 

 for it, if you are not an enthusiast now you will soon become 

 one, and every spare moment will find you prying into everflower 

 of your seedlings, and watching the unfolding of every leaf as it 

 expands, anxious to catch the first signs of the change that has 

 been bronght about by your skill and devotion to the improving 

 of the fruits at hand and under your control. 



And so, by each one putting forth a little effort at first, we 

 shall become a great aggregate in bringing out new and greatly 

 improved varieties to take the place of those that have been 

 weighed and found wanting; and we shall have honor, and not 

 only honor but fame, and wealth will flow to him who is the suc- 

 cessful one. And then we shall be helping the world back to 

 to Eden, for surely in Eden there were the best of fruits and fair-; 

 est of flowers, for was it not all pronounced good by the great 

 Creator? 



If I could say something, or if I have said something, that 

 shall induce the friends of horticulture to take a new hold on 

 this the noblest callings, then I shall be satisfied in this my feeble 



effort in putting my thoughts on this great subject before you. 



i 



DISCUSSION. 



Mr. Augustine — Mr. McKinney says that we are sounding the 

 praise of Pewaukee and Wealthy and that they are failures. 

 This is certainly a mistake, for when in Wisconsin and Minne- 

 sota last fall I saw some beautiful orchards of these varieties,, 

 bending beneath their load of fruit. 



Mr. Dunlap — I am that glad Mr. Augustine has become con- 

 vinced that we can grow apples. A few years ago he was very 

 despondent. I believe that in twenty years our orchards will be 

 better than now. 



