PLANT HYGIENE. 



81 



In all probability nitrate of lime, one of the new fertilizers, will be found 

 to be of very great value, as a source of both nitrogen and lime, for 

 glasshouse work. Here is an example which illustrates the need for 

 each cultivator to personally experiment. 



The importance of such items as firm or loose potting, much or 

 httle water, appropriate ventilation, cannot now be dealt with. These 

 are essentials which the ordinary practical grower knows well. 



Science has clearly demonstrated, and the alert, practical cultivator 

 has not been slow to recognize, the importance of cleanliness. Cleans- 

 ing fruit trees is only second, if indeed it is not equally important, 

 to their proper feeding. Probably cleanliness is the best safeguard 

 against insect pests, just as, in my opinion, appropriate feeding is 

 the best single safeguard against fungus attacks. However, it is not 

 one item only which ensures success, but the combination of many. 

 Some of the factors are at present incommensurable, some variable, and 

 some unknown. Who, then, can mathematically calculate the resul- 

 tant? Science can and will help the cultivator tremendously, and the 

 biologist, the chemist, the physicist, and every other scientific investi- 

 gator have a great work in winning from Nature her secrets, and this 

 nmst often be done without any special view of the utility to which 

 the knowledge may be put, if any. It is in the attempt to apply 

 scientific truths to practical affairs without proper consideration of all 

 the factors involved that so much absurd nonsense occurs. The mere 

 theorist who turns to economic culture will soon very greatly modify 

 his views respecting the utihty of the application of his theories, or he 

 will go under. His modified views may not find favour with his col- 

 leagues, and they will demand statistical demonstration of his opinions. 

 This may be justifiable, but it is usually too costly for the worker to 

 get out at his own expense, more particularly when the information 

 thus published will be to his own pecuniary disadvantage. 



The day will come, I hope in the near future, when the professor of 

 horticulture, versed in science and practice, will be qualified and 

 able to gather up the known facts and endeavour to weld them 

 into one harmonious whole. When on land under his own manage- 

 ment he will act as the connecting link between science and practice, 

 and that without prejudice, fear, or favour, in accordance with the 

 ancient saying: "Let us have truth though the heavens fall, for 

 assuredly if truth prevails the heavens will not fall." 



VOL. XXXVI. 



