504 
STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
we have already interested some of the best minds in our behalf, 
and we can point to profound students, in almost every branch 
of scientific ivestigation, that have devoted themselves to the 
investigations of the very questions which most interest and 
concern us. The practical spirit of the age is working in our 
behalf—and science is yielding her treasures to art; and we 
have only to collect and collate the knowledge thus derived 
from the study of nature, and with practical good sense apply 
it for our benefit. 
The philosophy of a former age, falsely so called, consists 
to a great degree of a collection of guesses. Theories were 
built up to sustain conclusions that were arrived at in antici¬ 
pation of events, which, in some instances, never happened. 
The baseless fabric could not stand, and the beautiful struc¬ 
ture of imaginative fancies necessarily crumbled to the ground. 
The inductive philosophy, starting with established tacts, 
arranging and comparing these, has given us quite other 
results. This has remodeled all our philosophy, and has 
caused a revolution in all our sciences of observation. Our 
studies are more than ever the investigations of phenomena, 
the observation of facts. We are no longer so apt to be led 
astray by the authority of names ; in our republic of science 
each pupil may verify for himself the statements of his teach¬ 
ers and predecessors. The observed fact is of value, because 
it is a fact, and not because of its having been heralded by a 
famous name. ' 
The observations app]y with special force in horticulture. 
Many mistakes are made from this source, and from bad selec¬ 
tions of orchard fruits; from wrong treatment and from ill 
adapted and changed conditions, soil, etc. 
Mr. President, through you, allow me to tender to thts audi¬ 
ence, an expression of the deep sense of gratitutde for iheir 
patient forbearance under the infliction of a mere didactic lec¬ 
ture, when they may have come to be amused and entertained. 
The forensic arts have never been the forte of vour earnest, 
working friend who is also the warm well-wisher for the suc¬ 
cess ot horticulture and agriculture in Wisconsin. 
