HOETICULTURAL SOCIETY. 295 



of useful information resulted, and men have begun to think 

 more seriously of the subject of thus applying education. Al- 

 though farmers have talked a good deal about "kid glove," 

 "side walk" and "educated farmers" with a sneer, they yet 

 taught something about their business which was new and of 

 interest to them. 



Marshall P. Wilder was a man whom horticulturists delighted 

 to honor, and one whose name is widely known in connection 

 with his endeavor to establish agricultural and horticultural ed- 

 ucation on a helpful, enduring basis. I heard his reply to an 

 attack on the Massachusetts Agricultural College. I think it 

 was in 1880. Mr. Moore, whose name has been made famous in 

 connection with the introduction of desirable fruits and vegeta- 

 bles, said the college had not accomplished anything. Mr. 

 Wilder's reply was: "The farmers of Massachusetts have been 

 the worst enemies of the college. While the college desired to 

 help them, they would not help the college, but have criticized 

 its administration scathingly, while they would not take hold 

 and make the institution what it should be." In speaking of 

 the education it had developed and the stimulation of agricul- 

 tural thought it had produced in the face of these difficulties, he 

 said: "A few years ago the names nitrogen and phosphoric 

 acid were never heard in a farmer's conversation, and if most of 

 them had been told that phosphoric acid was the son of Queen 

 Victoria, and that nitrogen was his sister, they would not have 

 thought it at all strange. To-day, the names of nitrogen and 

 phosphoric acid are common words in farmer's meetings, and 

 they understand their meaning and use them intelligently." 



In Massachusetts the farmers have changed from a x)Osition of 

 enmity to the college and its work and are now the best sup- 

 porters of it and of agricultural education. 



How has this change been brought about ? When the country 

 was new and the soil rich in the elements of vegetation, and 

 noxious insects as yet did but little damage, there were not many 

 grave problems which presented themselves to our farmers. 

 They could grow wheat, grass, cattle and fruit without much la- 

 bor. Then, too, the standard of living was not as high as to-day, 

 and many things considered luxuries then, are felt to be neces- 

 sities now. Then it was, that cruder methods of horticulture 

 and agriculture prevailed and were successful. It was only nec- 

 essary to seed down land, plant corn or apple trees, and good 

 crops were produced. 



