No. 7. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 525 



President. — Gabriel Hiester, Harrisburg. 



Vice Presidents. — Hon. W. T. Creasy, Catawissa; Thos. B. Meehan, 

 Germantown; Dr. J. H. Funk, Boyertown. 



Recording Secretary. — Enos B. Engle, Waynesboro. 

 Corresponding Secretary. — Wm. P. Brinton, Christiana. 

 Treasurer. — Edwin W. Thomas, King of Prussia. 



Mr. Cooper was authorized to cast the ballot of the Association 

 and the aforenamed were declared elected. 



The selection of a place for next annual meeting was taken up. 



Mr. McSparran named Lancaster. 



MR. PETERS. — While we were well treated, and had an excellent 

 meeting at Lancaster, we met there only a year ago, and I extend 

 an invitation to come to Gettysburg. I invite you in behalf of our 

 Adams County Fruit Growers, who will be glad to have you come 

 there. W^e have a Fruit Growers Association of some 40 members 

 in our county all growing leading varieties. You will also be able 

 to learn something of conditions existing there. 



Gettysburg too is historic ground and extends the hand of wel- 

 come. 



Mr. McSparran withdrew his nomination of Lancaster, and Get- 

 tysburg was unanimously chosen. 



The following paper was read: 



THEORY vs. PRACTICE. 



By W. H. Stout, Pinegrove, Pa. 



If we go back in imagination to that remote period when the 

 human race had evolved to a more intelligent and reasonable crea- 

 ture than brute creation, in the wilds of the world, upon his own re- 

 sources, among other animals, and increasing numbers of his race, 

 the struggle for existence intensified, by increasing population when 

 sheltering places in hollow trees, caves, and caverns were all pre- 

 empted and occupied, the theory of constructing sheltering tents 

 for protection suggested methods not then in practice. The theory 

 has been improved with the advance of civilization from the rude 

 tent of leaves, bark or skins to this period of sky-scrapers. Inex- 

 perienced, untrained and uneducated, subsisting upon the products 

 of nature, dieting upon roots, herbs and wild fruits as vegetables, 

 and upon turtles, snakes, snails, fish and such small game as the 

 first instrument in use — a wooden club — supplied him with meat, 

 until the easy available supply became exhausted, when improved 

 methods — a necessity — the theory of using stone axes, hammers, 

 and spears, the bow and arrow with pointed flint, ushered in the 

 stone, to succeed the wooden age. Ambition, envy, rivalry, feuds 

 and conflicts, were settled by combat between individuals and tribes 

 and the theory of conquest and possession through practice became 

 the law. Theory suggested hollow logs as suitable vessels for navi- 

 gation and fishing, and the wind driving the craft, suggested some- 

 thing to catch the breeze as a propeller. 



