118 State Horticultural Society. 



father being one of the pioneers of the Platte Purchase, having 

 settled the place where he now lives in 1841. So I have the prac- 

 tical preparation which so richly qualifies one for the responsible 

 duties of life. 



A theory or an assertion without practical demonstration is 

 like an empty bubble. It originates in the mind, and is the product 

 of thought. The idea conceived must be tested by intelligent, prac- 

 tical demonstration. 



It is supposed that the men at the head of the various posi- 

 tions in our experimental stations are men that have received sci- 

 entific qualification which prepares them for the responsible posi- 

 tions they occupy; and for an ordinary man to appear before this 

 intelligent audience to produce evidence in rebuttal to some state- 

 ments which have been published in bulletin form, and in the hor- 

 ticultural papers against the dust process, requires that at least hei 

 must have a practical knowledge of the question at issue. 



This rich and fertile country of ours is dotted over upon its 

 hillsides and valleys with experimental stations — the wife in the 

 cottage and the husband in the field studying the wonderful mys- 

 teries in the book of nature. 



As the farmer studies the seeding of his ground and the 

 breeding of his cattle, so must the horticulturist his orchard. The 

 man who plants out his acres of fruit trees and vines, and suc- 

 ceeds, must be a lover of fruits. He must put into his business the 

 same intelligence and energy that brings success in all honorable 

 avocations of life. 



As growers of fruit, we know what to plant and how to culti- 

 vate and prune, but how we are to exterminate the insects that 

 bring disaster to our business is a problem yet to be solved. 



The three greatest enemies we have to contend with in the 

 orchard are the apple curculio, coddling moth and fungus produced 

 by spore life. The greatest of these is the fungus, which produces 

 scab. As intelligent growers we agree that there is but one way 

 to control or to hold in check these, and that is by spraying. 



I planted my first orchard 38 years ago, consisting of 12 acres. 

 I had no trouble in growing good fruit for about 20 years. |'n- 

 sect life began to multiply, until I saw I had to do something to 

 hold them in check. I received some literature from Mr. Stahl of 

 Quincy, 111., on the subject of spraying. I purchased a pump and 

 spraying apparatus and went to work in earnest. I was the first 

 one to introduce spraying in my community. Others followed 

 but fell by the wayside. Have been spraying for 15 years ; have 



