SUMMER MEETING AT BROOKFIELD. 95 



said that every one present has a considerable knowledge of plants. 

 But if I were to ask, " How many of you have studied botany V there 

 would be few to answer in the affirmative ; and, among- those that did, 

 we would hardly find one-tenth the practical knowledge of plants pos- 

 sessed by those who answered in the negative. This is duetothe false 

 notion that a knowledge of botany consists in the ability to repeat a lot 

 of technical terms, instead of a practical acquaintance with the vege- 

 table kingdom. The school girl who can say calyx, corolla, sepal, petal, 

 and a n amber of other terms of that kind, is said to have studied bot- 

 any, even if she be unable to distinguish a red cabbage from a rose or 

 -a ripe cucumber from a Ben Davis apple ; while the experienced farmer, 

 who can tell every tree in our woods by its bark or leaves, or even 

 by a splinter of its wood — who knows by actual trial that it is easier 

 to get a wedge into a sycamore log than it is to get it oat again, who 

 knows the relative value of the different kinds of timber for various 

 purposes — who can tell what kind of weeds he is walking through, even 

 in the dark, and knows what kind of cultivation is necessary in order 

 to produce a good crop of almost anything his soil is capable of pro- 

 ducing — is said to be ignorant of botany if he does not know the tech- 

 nical terms. 



But though our farmers and horticulturists have considerable 

 knowledge derived from their daily contact with the vegetable world, 

 most of them are ignorant of the fundamental principles of plant life. 

 They know very little of the functions of the various organs and struc- 

 tures of plants and the influence of external agencies on the growth 

 of their crops, and are therefore no better prepared to raise such crops 

 than the would-be doctor, who knows something about the effects of 

 certain drugs when taken into the human system, but is ignorant of the 

 anatomy and physiology of man, is prepared to practice medicine. 



To keep plants healthy and vigorous requires care and attention. 

 The best results can seldom be secured by haphazard methods, or by 

 ignorantly applying methods that prove very satisfactory when practiced 

 by those who understand the principles upon which success depends. 

 Great damage is often done to crops by injudiciously applying what is 

 recommended by reliable men, and even more harm results from apply- 

 ing methods so evidently against the laws of nature that no one who 

 understands plant life would think of using them. I think it unneces- 

 sary to advance any further argument to convince the intelligent horti- 

 culturist that a practical acquaintance with the principles of plant life 

 is essential to their success. Every intelligent, progressive farmer and 

 horticulturist feels the want of a more thorough knowledge concerning 

 the laws and methods of plant growth. Of course there are many self- 



