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ANNUAL MEETING OF THE ILLINOIS HORTI- 

 CULTURAL SOCIETY. 



REPORT BY PROF. TV. J. BEAL, OF THE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.* 



This strong and well-known society has just closed a three days' session. 

 Your delegate gives below some of his notes and impressions. 



0. B. Galusha, of Morris, has acted most acceptably as secretary for thirteen 

 years or more. He positively declined re-election. The society lets him down 

 easily by electing him president. Mr. Lew Small, of Kankakee, where the 

 winter meeting was held, was run in as secretary by local influence. He is a 

 young man who lias not heretofore acted with the society. The leading men 

 of such a society who perform the work, — spend time and money from year 

 to year to migrate about the State to attend its meetings are not very aunier- 

 ous in any State. We know how it is in Michigan, How should we feel, and 

 what would be the feeling of the working members of our society, should we 

 accept an invitation to liold our annual meetings in Ann Arbor, Flint, or 

 Poutiac, and after going tliere some Small, tliough sharp fellow, should run 

 in a crowd of boys, who pay a dollar apiece, carry the election, and quietly 

 retire? 



Mr. Small liad evidently cultivated cheek, and iiad taken lessons as a saloon 

 politician. He knows how to pack a caucus. At least, that was the way it 

 looked to your delegate. 



We have known a hard worker — a capable, thrifty farmer lO be beaten by a 

 keeper of a saloon at the election of directors. The result was disheartening 

 and disastrous to a fair run in tlie interests of the farmer. It, seems the exe- 

 cutive board in Illinois felt indignant. They created the office of assistant 

 secretary, who is to make the report and draw the pay. 



This assistant is A. C, Hammond, of Warsaw. As there is now no money 

 in it, and not an overwhelming amount of honor, the future action of Mr. 

 Small is awaited with some interest. Only two or three active members cast 

 votes for Mr. Small. 



Many of the pa[)crs presented consisted of reports of permanent committees 

 on different de[)artments of horticulture and kindred topics. At xVlton, the 

 peach buds have already been killed by the cold snap. It lias been a bad year 



• Prof. Beal was elected a delegate lo the Illinois Horticultural Society at our annual meeting 

 in Flint, and this is his report as delegate. 



