SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 237 



and Greenwood of New York. We have some fair bits of grounds 

 in Chicago, not like these, however. Ours were hardly started right; 

 that is, there are too much money speculation. This should not be 

 in God's acre; they pay no taxes, and every dollar over and above 

 costs of management should be expended in adornment of the 

 grounds. 



Places of the character of public parks, and even the finer 

 examples of cemetery adornment, must, in this country,'take the 

 place of the grand old places of the Old World, where primo-geni- 

 ture and other customs keep homesteads for generations in the same 

 family, where successive generations, by addition after addition, add 

 to stately old places. We have nothing, or are likely to have rural 

 scenes of this character, as in the Old World, but our public parks 

 are a feature of the age, and years hence, will, I am sure, become 

 grand features of this country, belonging to the whole people, where 

 all may enjoy, as all own in their collective capacity. Every village 

 should start one of these health-giving, pleasurable places. 



A few more words and I am done. Thirty-two years, in even 

 this part of the West, has been an eventful one, has seen many hor- 

 ticultural changes. The bright hopes of many an enthusiast has 

 received a rude check; some have succumbed and given up the fight, 

 numbers have struggled on, a few, perhaps, reached the goal they 

 set out for. For a few years of that period, nurserymen had great 

 hopes, with bright visions of the future. Fruit culture, generally, I 

 think, too, during that time, has made some progress. There are 

 many yet that have not given up the fight, but are struggling to 

 find the iron-clad kinds to fill the bill. But, what is wanted, is a 

 sort of progressive idea; to secure this, more care and attention in 

 detail, more labor and expense to obtain given results. The time is 

 gone by to expect that our virgin soil only requires to be tickled 

 with a hoe to bring forth its fruits. Thought and well-applied skill 

 must be added: but, with these, it cannot be, but that there is an 

 abundance that will well repay its application. 



'■ Will it pay " is the great watchword of the times. With the 

 balance sheet on the right side of the ledger all is well. But I am 

 afraid with untoward seasons, sorts unsuited to the climate, the 

 whole business has received a set-back, a sort of black eye as it were, 

 that I hope will pass away in the good time coming. 



One of the great difficulties undoubtedly in our prairie country, 

 and indeed of all new countries, is the lack of good roads. The rail- 

 roads precede the settlements, or before good roads could be provided. 

 Whereas, before the railroads era, the only salvation for a country 

 was good highways, these once built, remained, or were easily kept 

 in good condition. Without good highways from farm to village or 

 city, the country, except a short time in the summer, is an uninviting 

 place for a home. The young become restless, and seek the cities, 



