, 1873-12-11

FIRST DISTRICT,
road lengthy report In regard to tho progress
In lis district. lie dwelt largely On tho olteot Of
tho winter-drought tho vitality OF trees, cainl
ing that to this cause was due muoh Of tho disae-
tor the past wiuter. Quo poraon had reported
that shelter on tho cast side Of tho orchard Was
Injurious, but advocated eholtor on tbs north
aud wost Hidcs. Tho loss of trees has bcon quito
largo tho past wintor, and tho crop Of fruit very
small. Many contradictory Incidents occur In
regard to hardness, nnd no rule Mill explain
these orratio caBca. Some OF tho moss hardy
sorts havo been Horiously injured, and those
sheltered almost as badly 40 those exposed.
THE rnEAsunEn's REPoAT.
Mr. Higgins reported:
Cash band ut tho beginning Of tho ycar. 01034
From stae'. .....".".."........".... 2oo0.0o
*3o97.34
Expenses current syear.................... 1o2.o5
Cash on hand. 29o5.2o
Report adopted.
Tile lion. a. o. Cunningham introduced
Dn. GREGORY,
who addressed wclcom eto tho members Of tho
Society, and spoke at length III regard to tho
value Of Horticulture in all parts Of tho State.
TIE PRESIDENT
spoko as follows:
6eyonteen years ago this month, faw-nota
dozon-porsons met BY appointment, at Decatur.
to org anize tho Illinois State horticultural So
oioty. Tho wisdom that dictated that movement
has long since been apparent. Then thore wero
but few small commercial orchards and mar
ket-gardening wns in it's infancy. We woro
settlement had just begun to
rhile OUT inaect-foeB, that no now have to bat
tlc, had not begun aerious warfare on orchard
and garden.
Those seyenteen years hayo been fruitful OF
yards. nnd tho Neutrality-suspicious. Of tho State oo-
cupY many thousand noren and many aquRro
mlos Of riyer-bluff, Of rolling prairio aud wood
land hillside. arc made resplendent With horti-
"A tho years have como and gone, aomo Of
that band OF workers and organizers-nen who
put thoir hands to tho early vork-havo laid
donn to their final rost. But nav workers have
come into tho field, md tue good work will 80
on long after all OF us shall have gono to our
Inst home. It il Woll that the good work shall
continue, for horticulture i8 tho handmade OF
Agriculture. aud totino1 and adds to the oDjoy-
ments Of life.
In ali periods man has had to labor. Even
Adam, when placed in the midst of Eden, mas
commanded to dreHt and to keep it. But under
Tie now arrangement that soon followed. thero
were new duties imposed, and new enemies to
encounter !; all Of which no now most fully com
cold must BIO modified by culture, by shelter, and
by tho shears aud tho pruning knfe.
At first this Society gave it's efforts to tho
orchard and the garden but soon thore carno a
demand for forests, aud forestry and hodge,
growing voro added to tho list OF our octIye
duties. Then tho railroads have made new
domand on us, for tue tics that form the road
bed, tho timber for culverta. for cars. and for
fouce-posts. -....
How best to provide for all Of these now and
old demands iB tho object Of theao annual gath
cringB, thnt Gull yon from your homes in order
that you may plan tho work for it's bettcr prog
ress Much Las been accomplished, but moro
has to be done. The varied changes Of tho eoa-
Sous, tue unequal a!ternationB OF wet and dry,
tho uncertain attacks OF the insect-tribos, the
forays Of birds, and tho irregular growth Of
plants, havo all to be takon into tho account,
and ss faE rs pc11sb; to- DO ngstoa and
important part Of rural labor, and ono that re-
quires special training and special management
il order to be most successful, md yes its sub
division may bo added to ordinary farming as
tho farm.orchard is not expected to fur.
nish large surpluB for tho demands
Of tho market. Then tho small fruits
may become a part Of the business Of tho mar
while flowers, from tho rlodeat forget-mo.n not to
tho giant denizeus Of tho forest, should form
part Of every rural homo.
10 you is confi1od this important trust, and
upon it's faithful fulflllment willdepend much Of
tito wenlth, the pleasure, and tho enjoyment of
tho homes Of the people Of the State.
DISCUSSION ON TUE REPORT OF MR. NELSON:
Mr.. Wink1er took exception TO that part Of the
report ~ regard to tho injury OF shelter On tho
cast. Flo mas for sholtering not only our
orchard but cur fold. We must plant trees for
slcltor and for otl.or purposes. Ho was glad to
SEQ the progress atroady mado. lte know Of
cottonwood ttces groMn on tho prairie that haye