42 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1891. 



any special scientific attainments, and who attained results by 

 careful, patient study and experiment as practical growers. I do 

 not mean by this, that such experimental work would by any 

 means be outside the scope of the professional scientist. But 

 the work of the professional scientist has been for the most part 

 confined to the laboratory. 



The State Board of Health of Massachusetts, with an annual 

 appropriation of from $15,000 to $25,000 for the purpose of 

 devising some satisfactory system of sewage disposal, have for 

 years persisted in the idea, long ago exploded in Europe, that 

 downward intermittent filtration was the only efficient system ; 

 and almost their entire appropriation from year to year has been 

 expended in experimentation in this direction. And almost 

 entirely by simply laboratory experiments. They are now com- 

 pelled to admit that the practical solution of this great problem 

 by our efficient city engineer has demonstrated that, so far as 

 Worcester at least is concerned, they were mistaken, and that 

 chemical preci})itation has settled for us this troublesome question. 



In this plan, therefore, while the work of the professional 

 scientist would be not only welcome but essential, for the science 

 of Horticulture includes almost the entire range of sciences, we 

 should have also the principles of science practically applied. 

 Phytology or vegetable physiology furnishes still a wide field for 

 investigation. Much has been done in the line of hybridization 

 and cross fertilization, but the possibilities in this direction, judg- 

 ing from what has been already accomplished, are almost infinite. 



It would seem that the suburbs of Worcester should afford 

 some tract of land of easy access, of the right exposure, and of 

 other conditions suitable for such an experimental garden. Of 

 course such an enterprise if entered upon should be attended 

 with great deliberation, and years might elapse before it could be 

 fully perfected, before the proper site could be selected, the 

 ground prepared, the proper buildings and appliances constructed 

 and the work in successful operation. 



But these are simply crude suggestions. The plan may not 

 meet the approval of your good judgment. You may pronounce 

 it Utopian and chimerical. I offer the suggestions for what they 

 are worth, in no pride of opinion and with the best good of the 



