STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 39 



The Executive Committee at once took action in the matter, and 

 as it was important that the Society should be represented at the 

 first meeting, when plans for experimental work were being outlined, 

 Mr. D. H. Knowlton was elected as advisory member of the council 

 of the Experiment Station. For the work accomplished there I will 

 refer you to his report. We think there is a wide field open before 

 them, and we hope for great results from their investigations. 



As most of us are aware, there is considerable discussion at the 

 present time about teaching the rudiments of the science of agri- 

 culture in our common schools. Having previously called attention 

 to this subject, I will now simply express the hope that we may take 

 such measures as the Society shall deem best, to properly present 

 this subject to the people, and secure the needed legislation. The 

 education of any scholar is certainly very incomplete without some 

 knowledge of the natural sciences, and this knowledge might be so 

 placed before the minds of the young as to be fruitful of very satis- 

 factory results. It frequently takes but a trifle to direct the thoughts 

 of a youth into a channel which will lead to great accomplishments. 

 John Bartram, a farmer living near Philadelphia, in the middle of 

 the last century, while resting from his plow a few minutes, pulled 

 a daisy to pieces, and being struck by its marvelous construction, 

 left his work and went to the city, and purchased a botany in Latin, 

 and a Latin grammar, and soon mastered so much of the language 

 as to enable him to study his botany, and in a year had botanized 

 all over the country about him, and afterwards became botanist to 

 the King, at fifty guineas a year. He established on the beautiful 

 banks of the Schuylkill, the first botanical garden in America, which 

 resulted, by exchange of plants, in great benefit to both this country 

 and England. I do not think the advantage of introducing the sub- 

 ject will be so much what they learn at school, as it will by awakening 

 thoughts in the minds of many, which will lead to after investigation. 



The objection raised by some, that we do not want class legisla- 

 tion, is hardl}' worth notice. We well know that all the states 

 which are up with the times are already appropriating considerable 

 sums to support colleges and experimental stations, and to other- 

 wise advance the science of agriculture. I am satisfied that we are 

 only to convince the farmers that a little instruction in our common 

 schools in the natural sciences which form the foundation of all 

 intelligent farming, will be for their best interests, elevate their call- 

 ing, increase the possibilities of those who are to follow them, and 



