Tenth Annual Meeting 71 



to 15. For 3^ears the production in this country has been 

 based upon what were supposed to be facts as expressed in the 

 above propositions. 



All at once, in the Rocky Ford country of Colorado, the 

 sugar beet industry starts up, and it is found that under their 

 system of irrigation upon that soil beets can be grown with an 

 average percentage of over 20; that long beets produce just as 

 good sugar as the short ones; that there is as large a percentage 

 of sugar in the crown of the beet as in any other part; that it 

 does not make any difference whether the beets are forked or 

 single -rooted, the percentage is just the same — really knocking 

 out very many of what were supposed to be established facts. 



We find in almost every branch of horticulture illustrations 

 of this same truth; that after we have learned all we can, some 

 day new conditions will in a twinkling produce an entirely dif- 

 ferent view. So we must not be too certain of what we call 

 our facts, and we must have a broad angle of vision and a 

 willingness to accept truth, no matter from what source it 

 comes, and utilize it to the advantage of our calling. 



There are some auxiliary conditions that I desire to call to 

 your attention in connection with the "signs of the times," and 

 first, I may mention the matter of health. To get the keen- 

 est satisfaction out of our occupation, we must first have 

 health, and our methods must have this in view. And again, to 

 reap the largest profits (not limited to money profits) one must 

 know how to get the fun out of horticulture. By this I mean, 

 know how to do things just for the fun of doing them, not 

 always sizing up results by the amount that is turned into the 

 bank account; recognizing the old saw that "a shilling's worth 

 of fun is worth a shilling." Then, again, we must remember 

 that we are engaged in an occupation the object of which is 

 very largely the growing of products to feed the man -animal, 

 not only the one outside of ourselves, but the one nearest to 

 us. To grow such products and use them in connection with 

 living so as to give the keenest satisfaction to the palate and 

 develop the most complete organization of the physical man is a 

 high order of business and if well followed will necessarily be 

 well requited. 



Then, in horticulture, the child's environment is to be 



