STATE HOETICULTUKAL SOCIETY. 38 



recorded ou the pages of history are theirs, and there they will be 

 well preserved, aa everlasting compliment to the great mother, 

 Nature, who nurtured them and made them what they were. 



"The first glad tones that rang for me 



Were woodland whispers, soft and mild; 

 The woods sang me a lullaby 

 As sings a mother to her child." 



Before we conclude let us direct our attention for a few moments 

 to the good old Society. Nobly and well has it done its work for 

 thirty-three long years. By the untiring energy of its skillful lead- 

 ers, and those of its sister societies, horticulture has been advanced 

 from an art into a science, and only the future can tell what they 

 may yet accomplish. And if only some of our legislators could be 

 brought to realize the importance of the work which they are doing, 

 something might be done that would gladden their hearts and 

 lighten and facilitate their labors. 



But boys, have you ever thought that they need recruits. Many 

 of its leading members are no longer young, and one by one, they 

 will lay down their armor and retire from the field. 



The philosopher of old wanted but a fulcrum on which to rest 

 his lever in order to be able to move the world; unfortunately how- 

 ever, for that aspiring genius, he failed to tind one. The Illinois 

 Horticultural Society to-day, in order to perpetuate itself and carry 

 out the good work which it has begun, wants but a few young and 

 willing hands to take up the burden where tired hands have laid it 

 down. 



And boys let us wake to the duty before us. 



Xo longer restrained by the flickering lights 

 Of doubts and uncertainties hovering o'er us, 



We'll shoulder our arms and advance to the right. 



• 



THOROUGH WORK THE KEY TO SUCCESS. 

 BY LEON" HAY, KANKAKEE. 



Before attempting to write on this subject it mav be well to try 

 to find a definition that may cover the entire scope of the proposition. 



Thorough work the key to success is, in other words, applying 

 neither less nor more labor in the various known ways, than is neces- 

 sary to obtain the best possible results when trying to attain any 

 desired object. 



This subject may be treated by drawing illustrations from all 

 the occupations of man, yet for this occasion it is appropriate to draw 



