198 Report of State Board of Horticulture. 



GENERALS IN HORTICULTURE. 



PAPER READ AT NORTHWEST FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION, 



PORTLAND, 5, 6, 7, 1901, 



By Hon. Henry E. Dosch. 



We are standing at the threshold of the twentieth century, reverently 

 and with bowed heads, seriously contemplating what it may have in store 

 for us. In the century just closed much has been achieved, especially in 

 the latter part of it. The world has made such rapid strides forward that 

 thinking men were amazed, astounded; what was new today was old to- 

 morrow; hence as we stand gazing into the unrevealed, we cannot help 

 being awed, as we speculate and wonder what the development will be. 

 It is indeed an electrical age. In the closing century we have made won- 

 derful progress in science, art, education and general enlightenment, 

 commerce, mining, manufacture, electricity; yes, even in war, and to 

 some extent in agriculture and horticulture; but, while nearly ail of 

 the former have developed leaders and generals, the latter have failed to 

 do so. There may be some reason for this. Agriculture and horticulture, 

 giving a pleasant and quiet life, are perhaps not calculated to impel men 

 to reach out, especially as the commercial side of those engaged in those 

 pursuits has not been thoroughly developed, which may be the reason 

 that the youths of energy, push and activity have not engaged in it, but 

 preferred the world, instead of the farm and orchard, as their field of 

 battle; and yet there is no occupation which at this time offers better op- 

 portunities for this very energy, activity and brain than does horticulture. 



Horticulture, which is nearest to us and interests us most, needs at 

 this time generals. As we stand and gaze into the unknown, may we not 

 hope that she will give us a horticultural Von Moltke, Grant, Sheridan, 

 Lee, Johnston, Farragut, Clark or Dewey — men who can not only plan 

 the battle, but execute the plans to a successful finish? 



On a former occasion I said that we know the soils best adapted for 

 various fruits, the best varieties to plant for family use and commercial 

 purposes, and know how to evaporate them. We have also learned what 

 varieties to plant for pollinating purposes. We know most of the diseases 

 and insects infecting trees and fruit and how to combat them. But the 

 marketing of our products to advantage is the greatest problem that con- 

 fronts us, which suggests the topic I wish to present — the need of horti- 

 cultural generals. We have plenty of men who can produce the very 

 best of fruits ready for the market, but there their generalship ends. 

 To place these goods into the world's market at a profit to themselves 

 is a feature they have never studied, and therefore are not able to exe- 

 cute the plans they have so carefully prepared. It required generals of 

 thorough commercial training to do this special work, for the kaleidoscopic 



