236 State Horticultural Society. 



and hug to themselves the follies and traditions of the fathers. They 

 look with suspicion upon the counsel of our experimental station because 

 the men conducting matters there have been known to speak of the 

 chemistry of soils and the phenomena of plant life. That much sci- 

 entific nonsense has been written we are aware, mere stuff it is, but all 

 truth yet brought to light has been dug out from under just such stuff 

 and not infrequently we get hold of error for a time, but the fact still 

 stands that if we would reap an hundred fold we must interrogate nature 

 and act upon her suggestions. 



We have put the horticulturist and agriculturist together so far 

 because it suited us best to do so. It is not our purpose to lampoon the 

 farmer and fruit grower, but we would like to shampoon some of them if 

 we only knew a decoction that would cut away dandruff and moss, in- 

 duce a heavy sweat followed by much depletion and exhaustion. There 

 might then be some chance for them. Verily we say they must be born 

 again. We speak plainly; being farmers and fruit growers ourselves, 

 we feel that such statements from us will be received with less prejudice 

 than if they came from higher authority. 



We say then that the first essential to successful orcharding is a hor- 

 ticultural education, and no man has a reason to expect the highest re- 

 ward for his labor without it. Experience is of no serviceable value 

 unless it has a basis of intelligence on which to rest. The teacher who 

 would by experiment illustrate atmospheric pressure has his trouble in 

 vain, unless he has the pupil so taught that the experiment answers 

 some question underlying natural phenomena. The pupil observes a 

 strange behavior of matter under manipulation, but has gained no truth 

 to guide him in the solution of future problems. We say, too, that no 

 experience in horticulture is of any positive value unless it rests upon 

 information through which it answers some question affecting plant 

 life. Some question of the economy of nature relative to health, growth 

 or fruitage, unless there has been previous preparation the observer is 

 ])ractically untaught, yet such observations are often called experience. 

 Jefferson was right when he said : "He who would rely upon his ex- 

 perience to guide him should always remember he has a fool for a 

 teacher." That is nil there is in experience when it stands upon itself. 

 \'ery little standing on nothing. Tt reminds me of the two black snakes 



