94 



put that down ; it will make warts all over your hand, and he 

 just laughed and said that was all nonsense; and I said, who 

 told you that? and he said I learned that at school.' Now I 

 want to say to you men that when you let loose a scientific 

 idea and think it will filter down into the grades, you are 

 mistaken. At our great corn show here, a gentleman spoke 

 about prejudice and superstition. After the talk was over a 

 farmer came up to him and said, 'Well, I agree with most of 

 what you said, but I am against you in wdiat you said about 

 the moon influencing potatoes. I always plant mine in the 

 dark of the moon and always have fine potatoes. If the moon 

 influences tides, why don't it influence the size of potatoes?' 

 Immediately, another man from Mercer came up to speak to 

 the gentleman who delivered the talk, and he says, 'I agree 

 with about all you said ; I always plant my potatoes in the 

 light of the moon and they are mighty fine, I tell you.' 



Gentlemen, it gives me great pleasure to propose as the next 

 topic '"Illinois With or Without Science" and name as the gen- 

 tleman, Professor R. O. Graham, who is president of the 

 State .Horticultural Society." 



