DISTRIBUTION OF SEEDS. 99 



SO lavishly furnished instances and provisions. I possess tracts and trea- 

 tises of the most erudite and elegant naturalists, who, the honor of science, 

 are yet honored still more by the attachment of their labors and researches 

 in the fields of horticultural and agricultural pursuits abroad. Where is 

 the agricultural society in this country which recognizes among its officers 

 the botanist, who studies the structure of the subjects of its operations, or 

 the presence and influences of wasting diseases, produced or incident on 

 disease and failure of the crop? Other branches of natural history should 

 occupy their place and sphere, and the library which contains the best 

 treatises on scientific husbandry as pursued abroad, ought to be explained 

 and rendered serviceable by the lecturer at the annual meeting, or at stated 

 periods. Is it not a shame and reproach that we borrow so much from 

 abroad ? Making ourselves still children in our avocations, by being in- 

 debted to otheis in other countries where soil and climate and atmosphere 

 and the nature of labor all conspire to make the difference between us and 

 those older countries so wide and distinct. And we reap our reward, in 

 committing the saddest mistakes — nay worse, in making the most stupid of 

 blunders, by confounding facts, and misusing names, and falling into errors 

 in consequence at once ludicrous and fatal. 



Then, again, the field husbandman, having a larger area of operations, is 

 tempted to experiment on newly-recommended seeds and fruits, which he 

 finds too often of no value, while the horticulturist leaves to him who has 

 the most acres the care and the pursuit of the experiment. If the same 

 ignorance were suffered in the raising of stock, in breeding horses or 

 crossing sheep, as obtains in raising crops from recommended seeds, how 

 the scorn of the community would be turned upon the unfortunate experi- 

 mentalists. Several species of moth produce very strong and durable silk, 

 and some other creature beside, but who would rear the destructive larva 

 of the one or the nests of spiders from eggs distributed by some officious 

 and well meaning but ignorant person? The nicest care and discrimma- 

 tion is requisite to determine the character of many species of moulds 

 attacking vegetation ; they look very similar, yet they are very diverse, 

 some wholly harmless, others most insidious. Many an unfortunate insect is 

 inhumanly treated or killed because seen in bad company, and there only 

 because it Avas seeking its food among other insects which were injurious. 

 The birds have had the most eloquent panegyrics bestowed on their kindly 

 labors, but how still in vain, until, as we hope, actual experiment here shall 

 show the surplus of good over evil they can exhibit. All these things, and 

 a myriad more ever occurring, are worth knowing ; and as there are those 

 whose tastes and pursuits lead them to investigate and know them, it were 

 the part of sound wisdom to invite them to be counsellors in societies formed 

 for the common good. It cannot be reasonably expected that any or 

 every person shall possess all such knowledge ; one may graft much better 

 than I, but I may still be able to tell him the probable why and wherefore 

 some sorts will grow upon a quince stock and some will refuse to be united ; 

 and though his knowledge of the modus operandi of making a plant thrive 

 is better than mine, I can assure him, on the first glance, whether he is 

 sowing a weed or a new sort. 



