60 REPORT OF THE CONFERENCE ON GENETICS. 
decorations of the tables to help us to feel what this entertainment is, 
and in what it is we are taking part. I have to return thanks also for 
those who are not here. I think of one who was with us on the former 
occasion, Professor de Vries, whose marvellous discoveries, published soon 
afterwards, have thrilled the scientific world. He ought to have been 
here to-night, but, like works of art which are acquired by San Francisco 
and Boston, Professor de Vries has been acquired by the American 
nation. Happily, however, unlike the works of art, he will return, not 
the worse, but I hope the better, for his sojourn across the water. 
There is another professor absent to-night, Professor Correns, whose 
name will be remembered as long as this branch of science is pursued. 
We are exceedingly sorry that it is ill-health which keeps him away. 
But even without these two “giants in the land” I am happy to say 
there are many present this evening who will make this gathering 
distinguished. When I ask myself “ What is the reason for this princely 
hospitality ; why should we be taken under these generous auspices ?”’ 
I really have no answer to give. I wonder sometimes whether we 
really have a valid position; but I feel, after all, that Science and 
Practice in horticulture should go hand-in-hand, and that Science by 
her discoveries can give useful instruction which can be used and 
appropriated to the practice of the art, and we are here to-night to declare 
our belief that the promises made on behalf of that union will yet be 
fulfilled, and that there is a solidarity in our international union which 
will last for many a day to come. To the question, “ Will those promises 
be fulfilled ?’’ sometimes I aay “ Yes,’ and sometimes I say “No.” To- 
night I am going to say “ Yes.” 
The great thing is not to promise too aa or too much, and I trust 
that no one will suppose that Science is going to do the impossible, 
and produce new forms of plants and animals out of nothing. You 
cannot do it! You cannot get a yellow pea from a white, or a red from a 
yellow, if the yellow or the red is non-existent ; but if the colours are 
latent there, Science will get at them. At present we know only the mere 
rudiments of our profession, but I believe that our knowledge, combined 
with yours, will one day produce something very remarkable. On an 
occasion seven years ago at the Royal Horticultural Society I expressed 
a doubt whether Science had anything to contribute to Practice, looked at 
from the trader’s point of view. But seven years have gone by since then, 
and I now know that we have something. ‘The scientificand the practical 
have gone to form a perfect and fertile hybrid. I think segregation will 
occur, and that Science will ultimately separate from Practice; but that 
date is remote, and it is quite enough for us to rest on the absolute fact 
that for many years to come Science and Practice will go hand-in-hand 
and assist each other. There will come a time when Science will have 
learned all it can from Practice, and possibly there will come a time when 
Practice will have learnt all it can from Science, and, as in the profession 
of electricity, Practice will develop into Science. The practical electrician 
of to-day is at the same time the scientific electrician, but in horticulture 
I expect a century must elapse before the same complete union of Science 
and Practice will be achieved. But one thing is certain, we shall between 
us succeed in producing very good results in the meantime. There is _ 
