DECEMBER MEETING. 315 



If it is somewhat difficult to perfonu ;iu oxperimoiit that i.s of real value — 

 and if one is very liable to tread upon territory that has already been investi- 

 gated, the ((ucstion arises, What shall be the character of our work in this 

 direction and whore shall wo look for something new? The knowledge we 

 desire to obtain is both scientific and practical, and one sort should not be 

 soiiofht to the exclusion of the other. We want to know the truth first of all, 

 and in all our investigations it is of the highest importance that we eliminate 

 every possible source of error from our methods. A fact in science must be a 

 fact, not a supposition or a guess, and after we have established it our next 

 desire is to find its practical bearings in the work we have in hand, out of 

 which we gain a livelihood. For instance, the question often occurs, does the 

 sap-sucker actually dig for sap or docs he dig for insects? When once wo 

 know an answer to this we can and will next inquire, What bearing has this 

 knowledge upon the care of our orchards and ornamental trees, where we 

 most usually find this bird does its work? 



Then in answer to the interrogation of where we should look for new ques- 

 tions to solve, — or old ones that are not yet settled, I will say, that in the pro- 

 duction of new varieties of flowers and plants for the greenhouse and border ; 

 new and hardy improved vegetables for the garden ; new and hardy fruits for 

 the orchard ; new and better adapted grains for the fields, we do see an appor- 

 tunity of originating things that are really new to the whole world. And 

 when it comes to the adaptation of methods of culture and kinds of fertilizers, 

 especially suited to these new things, we may be working upon an old principle, 

 but our detail of facts will be new. 



Probably the richest field for discovery in horticulture to-day is in the pro- 

 duction of new varieties adapted to special systems of culture, or to peculiarities 

 of climate and situation that in themselves are unchangeable. 



As to just the method to pursue in carrying on these experiments I have- 

 condensed in a few sentences my own convictions : 



1st. There must be a basis of knowledge from which to work. That is, one 

 must know something of what has been done, and how to go at Avork upon the 

 case in hand ; he must understand how^ to so simplify his work that the results 

 shall not be rendered nugatory by complications. 



2d. There must be a distinct purpose in view. I do not mean by this a point 

 to prove. For this in itself would so warp an experiment as to render its results 

 worthless. lie who closes an experiment by the comment on the results, that 

 he knew it would come out so, was not fit to perform the experiment at all. 

 By a definite purpose, I mean that one should have a clear notion of what ho 

 is at work upon, so as not to be led ofE from careful observation in the direction 

 of his experiment. 



3d. An experiment needs to be performed with great care. It must not be 

 put off or shoved aside for anything else when it demands attention. If it is 

 worth attempting, it is worth all the care necessary to make it perfectly 

 satisfactory. 



4th. In performing an experiment there should be absolute honesty. The 

 moment we doubt the veracity of one who experiments we lose confidence in 

 any result he may give us. It will not do to think a certain result is seen, one 

 7nust hnoio it. There is nothing that is to be done in this world that requires 

 a greater degree of veracity and honesty than this matter of experiments, 

 and when one prominent experimenter fails in this regard, we are apt to distrust 

 others even more than when a minister falls from the path of rectitude. 



