282 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Discoveries. 



BY A. CHANDLER, ARGENTINE, KAS. 



A.ccording to the program, I see I am dowa for a paper, though I 

 will fail to interest any one, except I were to write about the Silver bill. 

 World's fair, or kindred subjects. 

 fr My subject is " Discoveries." I have nothing new to offer. I shall 

 note some things that we have not discovered, and will endeavor to 

 give what appear to my mind some of the reasons why. 



So rapid has been the march of science, of art and mechanical 

 application to almost everything, that we discover that we are a good 

 way behind in the procession. 



Science is able to follow the planets through the trackless heavens, 

 to compute their orbits, to calculate the return of an eclipse, with 

 unerring precision; [but if science in horticulture is called upon to 

 give us a specific remedy for the •' pear-blight," it is disconcerted, and 

 we are referred to the mysterious ways of Providence. 



Our colleges teach Latin and Greek ad Infinitum, universities give 

 diplomas in law and in medicine, and yet horticulture, the oldest, and 

 I may say the most important occupation of man, is left to struggle 

 with its uncertainties. No formula is given us, the working out of 

 which would insure us next year's fruit crop. ]!S'othing is here intended 

 to reflect discredit on the life-work of many eminent horticulturists. 

 The after-glow will reach on through many years. 



Very much has been written for the benefit of fruit-growers; it is 

 too often cast aside ; it is not given a place and the importance that it 

 should have. The partial failure of the fruit interest of this central 

 portion of our country is the neglect of many to give the subject 

 proper attention. If we will but give the orchard and the farm that 

 attention that is requisite in other callings, we believe that other 

 results will be manifest. 



I will digress here a little and pay my respects to those who have 

 left the orchard and the farm. Why this exodus to swell the superflu- 

 ous population of our cities? We may commence with Homer and 

 Cincinnatus and follow down through the centuries : all the way we have 

 the best of company and the most learned. The truth is, friends, too 

 the many of our people are living on 25foot lots, that might be kings of 

 the orchard and the farm. Why this choice for brick pavements over 

 fields and forests is not yet explained. A little missionary work on 

 their account by this Society would not be out of place. God made 

 the country, man made the town. Of the two, we think the country 



