Winter Meeting. i 237 



that had a difficulty and each snake concluded to swallow the other. 

 Beginning at the tails the swallowing went on until each had completely 

 s^rallowed the other and there was no snake at all, nothing there but the 

 two swallows. Question :- — What had become of the snakes ? 

 Reduced to a mathematical formula the question stands: No snake plus 

 no snake, minus two swallows equal two snakes ; no knowledge plus ob- 

 servations that mean nothing equal experience plus two snakes. 



Some years ago we saw a definition of experience that seems to fit 

 the case. It was given in connection with the career of a Kansas poli- 

 tician. You know they have an experience down there, all of them, Mary 

 Ellen included. Long may she wave. The definition was this : Ex- 

 perience is what a man experiences while experiencing his experience. 

 That sounds at first like idle jingle, but turn it over two or three times 

 and look at it and you will see that it is all there is in experience unless 

 you put something under it to start out with. 



We contend then that the first essential to successful orchardina: is a 

 knowledge of nature's methods in the economy of plant life and of the 

 conditions favorable to health, growth and fruitage, that we may assist 

 nature by operating upon conditions when they are found to be at fault. 

 The state undertakes to supply the needed information in so far as it 

 is possible through that medium. We look to the Horticultural Society 

 and the state experiment station as the most available and satisfactory 

 sources of information. But again we hear the cry of book farmer. 

 It comes from a respectable class of men, and it comes from Major 

 Gasbag and his lieutenants, armed with ax and saw and a bucket of 

 red paint. With hides inflated with egotism and experience they lead 

 the van and many there be that fgllow. In their campaign against 

 nature they have conquered on many a field and can do it again. These 

 men of experience would compel a tree to grow to their notion regard- 

 less of its innate laws. If it looks sickly under treatment the dose 

 was too light and they give it the kill or cure treatment. I would 

 rather have one himdred George Washingtons with their little hatchets 

 in my orchard than a band of these experienced horticulturists. ISTo 

 trnce with nature is tolerated for theirs is the work of extermination 

 and no prisoners are taken. The statistics show that onlv one tree in 



