118 TEANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTUEAL 



the uoble institution o£ learning located here. We claim this as our 

 institution and feel a pride in its success. We sometimes hear com- 

 plaints of its management, but they are always caused by ignorance 

 of its work and methods. Those of us who are familiar with it, know 

 that it is one of the best in the country. These fruits and flowers 

 are indications of your love for horticulture, and your interest in the 

 work. 



We thank you for your cordial welcome and feel that it is from 

 the heart. 



PRESIDENT'S ANNUAL ADDRESS. 



BY C. N. DENNIS, HAMILTON. 



As we greet each other in this, our fifteenth Annual Meeting, 

 renewing the old and forming new friendships, I trust and hope we 

 all come fully laden with observations and experiences that shall 

 make this meeting one of profit, as well as pleasure, to ourselves and 

 the interest of horticulture, always remembering that we are a fac- 

 tor very necessary in Illinois horticultural progress. 



In our State Society we meet our friends from the extreme 

 northern as well as southern points, from Dixon to Cairo. And in 

 these meetings it may be said we generalize, and in the discussion 

 and papers we test the value of the ideas gathered in our homes. It 

 has been said that a man mast go away from home to learn how to 

 live at home, so it is well to go away from home to learn horticulture 

 for the home. And while the State Society is a noble one, the Cen- 

 tral is equally important in its line, and one of its important duties, 

 I think, is to get nearer to the masses of the people and awaken 

 more real practical interest in horticulture, and I presume the best way 

 to do this is to encourage the formation of local societies, as it is in 

 these that the real genuine experimenting is done, and it is from 

 these that the Central and State Societies draw their ideas, yes, their 

 existence; and just in proportion to the number and ability of the 

 local societies, does the tide of this and the State Society rise or fall. 

 We should, but, alas do not, have a live horticultural society in 

 each county of the central district, and how to accomplish this would 

 well be worthy the consideration of this Society at this meeting. 



And were I to be allowed a membership in but one Society, to the 

 State Society, I would say, old friend, as much as I honor, respect 

 and esteem you, you present to me fields warmed by Southern suns, 

 and yet other fields of much colder clime so diversified, that with 

 my limited ability, I am not able to fully master your varied condi- 

 tions, therefore, noble old institution, the peer of any in the 

 sisterhood, I have other loves nearer and dearer to me, so must bid 

 you farewell, and the Central, while I feel much more akin, I find 

 in the northeastern portion of its extent, and about Champaign and 

 along the Illinois and Spoon rivers, so much diversity as to almost, 



