18 TKANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



In attempting to do this, as well as many other branches of our 

 work, we find ourselves hampered for means. Some of our own 

 people fail to realize the fact that Illinois is a state of vast pro- 

 portions and wonderfully diversified soil and climate, covering an 

 area of six degrees of latitude ; that in the extreme north only the 

 ironclads will succeed, while the southern portion is the favorite 

 home of the peach. They do not seem to understand that this great 

 Empire State of the West, with its millions invested in commercial 

 fruit growing, with its hundreds of thousands of farmers who do not 

 yet realize the importance of supplying their families with fruit and 

 vegetables, and its hundreds of thousands of rural homes that lack 

 those elements of a perfect home, — an orchard, garden, a w^ll-kept 

 lawn and shade and ornamental trees, requires a larger outlay of 

 means to properly do the work expected of a Society like this than a 

 State of one-fifth or one-tenth of our area and with a homeogeneous 

 soil and climate. 



The sum that has been annually appropriated to our Society by 

 the State would probably be ample for some of the smaller States, 

 but is totally inadequate for Illinois. 



I have heard the remark made by members of this Society that 

 our taxes are high, and we must be careful about burdening the 

 farmers, who pay most of the revenue. All very true, but did it ever 

 occur to you what an enormous burden it would impose on the 

 400,000 families of the State if the legislature should grant us an 

 appropriation of $5,000 per annum, — which we need. Why, if we 

 do not take into consideration the other taxable property of the 

 State, but assess the whole amount on these 400,000 families, it will 

 actually cost them a cent and a quarter apiece. 



I have every confidence that if we ask the incoming legislature 

 for an appropriation sufficient to publish ten or twenty thousand 

 copies of our report and do other important work — if presented in 

 a proper manner and followed up with energy — it will be granted. 



The Society is under special obligations to the Illinois Central 

 and Wabash Railways for passes, by means of which the ad-interhii 

 and other work of the Society has been done at a very small expense ; 

 and if other railroads ^ would exercise the same far-seeing policy it 

 would be increasing their business and enhaacing the value of 

 property along their lines and add greatly to their profits. 



Since my last Annual Report the following orders have been 

 drawn on the Treasurer : 



Dec. 15, 1887— Appropriation to Northern Society $ 50.00 



Dec. 14, 1887— E. A. Riehl, expense of Board Meetiug 27 . 35 



Dec. 14, 1887— J. S. Browne, expense of Board Meeting 27 . 15 



Dec. 14, 1887— T. E. Goodrich, expense of Board Meeting 20.51 



Amount carried forward !$125 . 01 



