STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 155 



HORTICULTURE— PKACTICAL AND THEORETICAL. 



To study much a fact called chemistry, 



To learn earths, acids, alkalies and all, 

 To know all seeds, and name all bugs you see — 



Is Horticulture Theoretical. 



To reason much about the cause of things. 



To make analyses and classify 

 All buds and bodies, leaves, legs, scales and wings, 



And give them titles that may pass for high; 



To talk for weeks how much of this and that 



Is necessary that a plant may grow; 

 What rainfall, dewfall, sun, wind, cloud are pat. 



And then tell others what you do not know; 



To raise within a busy cranium 



At least six crops before you plant at all ; 

 To write long letters and for papers some, 



Is Horticulture Theoretical. 



To feel the sunshine and morning dew, 



To smell the ground in the lirst days of spring, 



To have for company yourself and you. 

 To hear the robins and the blue birds sing ; 



To hoe and harrow, and to put plain dirt 



On living seeds, and then to wait awhile; 

 To be afield in democratic shirt. 



And use your muscles in plebeian style ; 



To take all nature in your hardened hands. 

 Train trees, train vines, plant, prune, protect and pluck. 



Believe in self and in your fertile land, 

 And have more faith in living than in luck ; 



And tlien at last to sit in welcome style, 



With golden fruits heaped up in royal state, 

 Offered by beauty, with a gracious smile, 



To strangers dwelling in the city gate; 



To taste, to eat, to feel the throb of pride, 



To rise rejoicing from the festival. 

 To clasp new friends with old ones by your side, 



This, this is Horticulture Practical. 



- Prof. J. C. Bidpath^ at American Horticultural Society. 



