BEAL ON RELATIONS OF BOTANY TO AGRICULTURE. 97 



knowledge of the sLax)es, sizes, colors, markings and internal structure 

 of seeds is valuable to the horticulturist, enabling him to distinguish 

 the true from the spurious. 



The trained eye of a botanist is necessary to aid one to see beauties, 

 defects, harmonies and incongruities in selecting, combining and arrang- 

 ing trees, shrubs, flowers and foliage plants to best advantage for pro- 

 ducing the most pleasing etfect at the least outlay of money and labor. 



If a man knew the structure and functions of roots, he would not 

 carry trees in the sun on a windy day for miles without any covering, 

 yet this is often done, and then the man wonders why his trees did not 

 grow. He does not know that roots are almost as soon killed as a black 

 bass when out of water or exposed to the wind or sun. 



The man who knows the structure of a tree and how it grows, would 

 at least be amused at the following statement, once made by a "prac- 

 ticar' man at a meeting of our State Horticultural Society. To kill 

 the insects on leaves, to add health and vigor to a fruit tree and cause 

 it to produce abundantly of luscious fruit, he bored a hole into the trunk 

 of the tree, filled it with flowers of sulphur, and secured it with a plug. 

 He was careful to avoid boring very far into the tree because he might 

 thereby injure its heart! A knowledge of vegetable physiology teaches 

 a person the efl'ect on a plant of flowering, of seeding, of high cultiva- 

 tion or poor cultivation, of root pruning, of pruning the top at different 

 seasons of the year. It teaches how to manage plants for producing 

 flowers, and how to manage them to prevent their flowering. 



A person might as well attempt to become a surgeon without a 

 knowledge of human anatomy and physiology as to become a horticul- 

 turist without botany. The horticulturist who merely learns the trade 

 will not so quickly change his practice and adapt himself to the new 

 circumstances of a different climate in a remote country, as the one who 

 has studied well the principles of plant growth. 



Formerly many gardeners came to this country from Great Britain 

 and the continent of Europe, where the climate is very unlike our own. 

 If they are ignorant of the science of botany, and have only learned by 

 experience as an apprentice learns a trade, they are almost sure to fail in 

 America, till they begin and learn the trade over again, — and by that 

 time most of them are too old to learn new tricks, and go on making 

 mistakes. If well trained in botany, in the full sense of this word, he 

 will likely soon become master of his new situation, no matter where 

 he may go. 



Manj' worthless experiments have been made, wasting time and money, 

 attributing results to wrong causes, from a lack of knowledge of plants. 



No horticulturist without a thorough knowledge of "the principles of 

 several departments of botany is capable of planning and conducting 

 and interpreting experiments. Think of the time occupied in making 

 experiments, in discussing the subject in the press and in conventions 

 on the cause or nature of pear blight! 



In horticulture, in most respects, botany will make a person more 

 capable. It will make him a good observer, improve his reason, 

 strengthen his judgment, cultivate his taste, broaden his views, weaken 

 his respect for the traditions of his fathers. It will sharpen his wits, 

 make him a reliable investigator. It will enable him to become a leader 

 instead of a follower. ^ 



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