No. 7. DEPARTMFNT OF AGRICULTURE. 541 



was only a little more thau one per cent.; some districts showing an 

 actual loss. The tendency still remains the same. With such 

 mighty increase of population with consequent increased demands 

 for the necessar}^ products of the soil, why need the husbandman 

 leave the freedom of his open fields, his orchards and his garden? 

 Can there be any logical economic reason why he should? Is not 

 the main reason why he does, the fact that he does not discern his 

 opportunities? And why fail to discern? Partly because they have 

 come so suddenly. In all ages the peculiar environments of his 

 occupation have tended to make the average husbandman adverse 

 to change, and never in history, in any land, have changes been 

 wrought with such marvelous rapidity, transforming a continent, 

 within the span of a few generations, from a trackless wilderness 

 to approximately the conditions of a civilization of a thousand years. 

 Though the American farmer shares this spirit of progress, for his 

 proper adaptation the pace has been too fast. Then too, the very 

 conditions under which agriculture was taken up in this new land, 

 tempting to extensive culture rather than care, have tended to pro- 

 duce slipshod methods, that have all too often been transferred to 

 horticultural lines in which the first conditions of success are inten- 

 sive culture and scrupulous care. Inevitable failure has been the 

 results, followed by further distrust of all inovations, and a dis- 

 position to leave the soil entirely rather than attempt the culture 

 of crops that are new. 



Gradually though slowly the increasing relative advantages of 

 horticulture are being recognized, through increasing demands in 

 the vicinities of local markets. . Slower still and more scattering is 

 the perception of wide flung opportunities for commercial horticul- 

 ture in all its branches, due to the extended and ever extending 

 transportation facilities, and the comparative proximity to a large 

 number of the great markets. Some of these opportunities are 

 full fledged but largely ignored; while others are possibilities that 

 might readily be developed. That is there are lines of transporta- 

 tion that having a scattered patronage of horticulture are furnish- 

 ing prompt service for perishable goods; while others which would 

 gladly furnish such service were it only worth while are awaiting 

 the call. 



In a few localities like the grape district of the north-western and 

 the important apple and peach district in the southern parts of the 

 State, and in several scattered, less important centres of various 

 products a few able leaders discerning the special adaptations of 

 locality to crop, have so thoroughly demonstrated the opportunity 

 as to induce a considerable following. But scattered all over the 

 Commonwealth are numerous localities just as well adapted to these 

 or other valuable horticultural products awaiting a leaders demon- 

 stration. Thus in practically every portion of the State there are 

 many engaged in agriculture with slight original local advantage or 

 with past advantage lost, to whom, horticulture offers and will 

 probably long continue to offer undreamed of opportunities. 



(Mr. Hiester in the Chair). 



THE PRESIDENT. — Any remarks on this paper, or any question* 

 desired to be asked? The subject is before you, if you have any 

 remarks to make. 



