SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 209 



time; one who coald, and would have done it in a much more pleas- 

 ant and effective manner. Our society has lost in the last year two 

 of its most active and efficient members. They were both enthusi- 

 astic and energetic horticulturists, just such men as are needed in 

 our society. Mr. D. W. Scott had been an active member of this 

 society ever since its first organization and nearly all that time had 

 held the office of Secretary. Milo Barnard had not been connected 

 with the society so long, but was an energetic, persistent worker, 

 whose influence was felt wherever he was placed. We feel their loss 

 keenly. As a society we seemed to need them much at the present 

 time to help tide us over the present horticultural crisis. But this 

 was not to be. They are gone, and let us devoutly hope that what 

 is our loss will be their eternal gain. 



Over twenty years ago this society was organized " for the 

 advancement of Pomology and the Science of Horticulture," more 

 especially in the northern district of our State. The members were 

 very active and zealous in their work, the meetings were largely 

 attended, and characterized by the energy and enthusiasm, not often 

 found in such gatherings. The planting of orchards, gardens and 

 groves was rapidly on the increase, and very many expected to reap 

 large rewards from their investments in this direction. Some who 

 were fortunate enough to plant early in the season of this boom, of 

 fruit growing, gathered large harvests from their ventures, greater 

 than they can ever expect to realize from that source again. Many 

 causes combined to prevent the desired or expected success in the 

 planting of these orchards. The severe winters and unfavorable 

 seasons for the growth of our trees, the immense increase in insect 

 enemies that prey on the foliage and fruit of the trees, the greatly 

 increased facilities for transportation of products from localities more 

 favorable to the production of fine fruit than ours, makes the busi- 

 ness of growing fruit for market, in this portion of the country, of 

 much less importance than it was hoped that it would be. 



The age we live in is a wonderful one — noted for its rapid 

 changes and developments — and in no part of the country are these 

 changes more rapid than in this western world. Our modern rail- 

 roads, telegraphs, telephones, etc., make the business methods and 

 principles of twenty years ago, entirely out of date to-day. Then we 

 depended on our own particular County or State for our supply of 

 fruits and vegetables. Now the whole country, from Manitoba to 

 Florida contributes to our need. 



The writers on forestry of twenty years ago, by their tables of 

 statistics proved that, within a short time, the supply of timber in 

 our great forests — at the present rate of consumption — would last 

 but a short time, that the forests in our own state were fast disap- 

 pearing; in fact, that if we did not plant timber at once and exten- 

 sively, we should within our own lifetime see a scarcity of wood for 



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