32 TKANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



A. H. Gaston. — The Downy woodpecker will pick out the borers. 

 Take care of him. 



Dr. Schrceder. — Will he stay in the orchard when you get him 

 there ? (Laughter.) 



Mr. Minkler. — Yes, and when the chickens scratch away the dirt 

 from around the trees the woodpecker will catch the borers ! (Renewed 

 laughter.) 



little more friendly sparring about the chickens eating borers and 

 catching the beetles was indulged in ; but, as no one had seen the work 

 done, no conclusion was reached. The discussion (or badinage) was 

 arrested by a call from the President for the 



REPORT UPON FARMERS' HORTICULTURE. 



C. N. Dennis, of Hamilton, presented his report, reading as fol- 

 lows: 



The subject of Farmers' Horticulture is general horticulture in its 

 broadest sense, as it is only the farmer who is properly situated to 

 practice it. Horticulture in cities and suburbs is of necessity dwarfed, 

 more or less, but here also it is that we find some of the best results in 

 specialties — a verification of the old adage, "A little farm well tilled." 

 Webster defines horticulture to be the cultivation of a garden ; and a 

 garden as a rich, well-cultivated spot or tract of country, a desirable spot. 

 The soil of Illinois is naturally rich, and if her farmers would do their full 

 duty the State would be a rich, well-cultivated tract of country, and if 

 properly horticultured (have I made a new word) would be a desirable 

 spot, such as was and is approved by God, as is shown by His placing 

 Adam in the Garden of Eden in the avocation of horticulturist. And 

 when he disobeyed He drove him out to the more ignoble avocation of 

 raising "hog and hominy" by the sweat of his brow. 



The old adage, " What is worth doing is worth doing well," is just as 

 true to-day as when it was first uttered ; and the object for which this 

 committee was formed is to induce the farmer to engage in horticulture 

 more extensively, scientifically and successfully. To do this he must 

 make less mistakes, buy less fancy frauds at high prices from unprincipled 

 peddlers, plant less trees of kinds that did well in New York, Ohio or 

 Kentucky, but never did and never will do well in his locality. In fact, 

 he should join, and attend the meetings of, the State and local horticul- 

 tural societies, become and keep posted in the kinds that do well in his 

 locality, learn and practice the best modes of cultivating them, and then 

 in cheerful confidence await the result. This he can safely do, as in his 

 fruit and ornamental trees (if properly cared for) he has stock in trade, 

 with Divinity at the helm; and as God does not get up corners for the 

 express purpose of catching somebody, he will be reasonably sure of 

 securing dividends, aye, good paying dividends, sometimes as high as 



