RATIONAL FERTILIZATION. 183 



A careful study of the growth of many species of plants has 

 revealed the fact that, as a rule, every one of them has some 

 inherent tendency to develop, under special circumstances, in 

 some particular direction. In some instances the flowers are most 

 disposed to a change ; in others, the seed ; in others, the fruit ; in 

 others, the tubers or the roots, etc. 



Our cultivated varieties of field and garden crops are evidently 

 the results of systematic endeavors through ages to develop these 

 inherent tendencies of plants in directions promotive of the ben- 

 efit of humanity. 



Each age has contributed its fair share, considering its special 

 resources, toward the present advanced condition of hoi'ticulture. 

 The introduction of an intelligent system of special fertilization 

 in the interest of a desired development of the natural or 

 inherent tendencies of our cultivated plants may yet prove a con- 

 tribution to horticultural practices worthy of our progressive 

 times. Horticulture was a highly developed art before botany 

 was known as a science ; yet no one in any degree familiar with 

 the present relation of botanic research io the various horticul- 

 tural industries would for a moment question seriously its benefi- 

 cial influence on their recent progress. Give to chemistry a 

 similar chance to demonstrate its influence and the result cannot 

 be doubtful. 



Discussion. 



William C. Strong said that there were few persons in any as- 

 sembly who could follow such a paper as had been read. It is 

 most valuable for its simple statement of fundamental truths. 

 The fact that so much progress has been made in the last fifty 

 years in all professions — that of medicine for instance — that the 

 laws governing the breeding of animals are so much better under- 

 stood — leads to the opinion that more progress ought to have been 

 made in the department of vegetable physiology and feeding, but 

 when we listen to such an essay as Dr. Goessmann's we feel 

 that this deficiency will soon be supplied. We see the necessity 

 of further investigation ; we see that it will not do to supply too 

 large a quantity of vegetable food to plants ; it is like overloading 

 the stomachs of animals. Farmers cannot make the investigations 

 needed, and it is fortunate that we have such a man as Dr. Goess- 

 mann to do it. It is wise economy for the state to supply the 



