164 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



sure of success will depend largely on the ability to so understand and use these 

 influences that they shall promote rather than retard all operations affected. 



While habits of observation are so essential to the acquisition of all knowl- 

 edge and the evolution of general principles, they are no less so in tlieir more 

 specific application. 



Plant growth in all its great variety and the varied influences affecting it, — 

 best methods of overcoming adverse and augmenting advantageous influen- 

 ces, — tlic relation of the plant to the soil, and the influence of each over the other. 



To the fruit groAver, perhaps the most important objects to be gained are 

 improvement in methods of culture and more tliorough knowledge of the best 

 practical management of the orchard. Whatever will add a dollar to the value 

 of the crop and save a dollar in the cost of its production the fruit grower 

 wants to know, and it must be learned mainly by observation. lie may hear 

 or read, but he can Icnoio to a certainty only by observation of results on his 

 own place. One of the best means of acquiring habits of observation is by tak- 

 ing notes and keeping a record of each day's doings. AVriting out briefly at 

 the close of each day the result of the day's labor and observation will be found 

 to add greatly to the interest of the work, and aid much in strengthening the 

 memory. By reference to these results, and a comparison of the results of 

 several years, many important facts and principles arc evolved. By thus 

 watching our footsteps we can tell if we are going up or down — if gaining or 

 losing — if we are making the advancement necessary to final success, or on the 

 backward track to ultimate failure. And if the progress be in the wrong direc- 

 tion, he will soonest change that direction, soonest make up for past mistakes, 

 soonest get on tiie right road to success, who knows best how to observe. 



0PIXI02?" OF JAMES SATTERLEE. 



Mr. James Satterlee, of Greenville, followed Mr. Ilaigh with a short address, 

 continuing the discussion as follows : 



Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, — Our success in any business or enter- 

 prise on which we may enter, depends lai'gely on the experience or practical 

 knowledge, which is the same thing, which we have of that business or enter- 

 prise. By experience I mean the practical knowledge we have obtained, 

 whether by our own efforts or whether handed down to us by means of books 

 or tradition. Experience is obtained in two ways : first, by noticing facts as 

 tliey occur without any attempt to vary the frequency of their occurrence or to 

 change their relation to each other or the causes that bring them about. This 

 is observation. Or we can bring to bear causes that will vary the relation of 

 facts to each other by increasing or diminishing the frequency of events over 

 which we have control and noting carefully the changes produced. Tliis is ex- 

 periment. The latter is out of the province of our discussion, which has only 

 to do with observation i)roper, or what might be called passive observation. 

 Now, to gain any experience that will be of value to us from passive observation, 

 it is necessary that all our perceptive faculties be active and ready to take cog- 

 nizance of the real facts as they occur. Our minds must be divested of all 

 prejudice in order to accept the truths that observatiou brings to us. We must 

 be able to distinguish cause from effect, and to note the varying circumstances 

 under which tlie operations of nature are carried on. Much of the present 

 advancement in the arts and sciences has come from the habits of observation 

 of such men as Watt, Morse, ivlison, and others too numerous to mention. 

 Improyed breeds of liorscs, cattle, sheep and swine are the result of experience 



