28 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



systematizing operations, so that modes of culture may as far as possible 

 be made remedial agencies, and that general remedies so far as it can 

 be done be substituted for the special ones. 



At particular times and under certain circumstances, these special 

 remedies become the only hope of the horticulturist ; but if certain 

 methods of culture can be adopted which will form general remedial or 

 counteracting agencies, then the war against them goes on unceasingly; 

 and special assaults will be less often needed. 



I shall therefore take it for granted that any practical plan of sys- 

 tematizing remedies — (and it is a. pracfical owe, if any, that you desire) — 

 must be based on horticultural operations, and that methods of culture 

 may be used as a means of defense against injurious insects ; that they 

 constitute what may be properly termed general remedies ; and commenc- 

 ing with the most comprehensive headings will proceed to unfold the 

 plan as I descend to the smaller subdivisions. 



Of course, as I am not a professional horticulturist, I may make 

 assumptions in reference to horticultural facts and operations which will 

 be erroneous ; nevertheless, as I am only presenting the outline of a plan, 

 they will suffice to illustrate the ideas I am advancing, and will therefore 

 answer my present purpose. 



Taking it for granted that no general definition of clean and thor- 

 ough culture, applicable to all horticultural operations, can be framed 

 which will be of any practical utility, we must necessarily, as our next 

 step, subdivide the operations of this department. And this, fortunately, 

 we are able to do by sufficiently distinct and well-known characters ; 

 thus : 



HORTICULTURE. 



■ I. Culture of the Nursery. 



2. Culture of the Orchard. 



3. Culture of the Vineyard. 



4. Culture of the Garden. 



In a strictly technical arrangement the first three might perhaps be 

 included in one group ; at least the vineyard might be placed with the 

 orchard, but the operations in the two being so different, and the latter 

 (vineyard), in reference to insects, requiring separate and special notice, 

 this division, which in fact is only used for illustration, is considered the 

 best practically. Ornamental and forest-tree culture will perhaps require 

 a fifth subdivision. 



Properly the nursery should be considered before the orchard in a~ 

 complete systematic arrangement ; but a single subdivision will answer 

 our present purpose, therefore we will confine ourselves to the orchard. 



I must now take it for granted that you can give a general but 

 concise definition of what constitutes clean and thorough, or proper 

 orchard culture. And as you may incjuire how this is to be made prac- 

 tically useful, and what bearing it is to have on the insect question, I will 

 explain. 



