34 TRAXSACTIOXS OF THE ILLIX^OIS 



But SO far as the word means commercial fruit-growing the less the 

 farmer has to do with it the better for him, and the better for the rest of 

 us. Large enterprises in farming and fruit-growing have not been gener- 

 ally carried on successfully together. They continually conflict in their 

 demands upon the attention and labor of the farmer. 



Many of us may be able to attain some success in one or two branches 

 of fruit-growing or of farming, as a specialty ; few, if any of us, can 

 accomplish much with them all. In attempting it we spread out too 

 thin. 



At the close of the reading Mr. Earle remarked : You will all agree 

 that my report possesses one merit — that of brevity. 



DISCUSSION UPON THE REPORTS. 



Dr. Humphrey. — Mr. President, I don't like to hear a professed 

 fruit-grower discouraging the growing of fruit by farmers and others. 

 Farmers can set aside a portion of the farm, say an acre, and attend to 

 it ; a portion may be devoted to the garden, in which may be raised 

 vegetables and small-fruits, and a portion to the orchard. By this means 

 the morals as well as the wealth of the farmer will be improved : the morals 

 will be improved, because if the boys have fruit at home they will not 

 steal it somewhere else ; the wealth will be improved, because the farmer 

 will have what apples he needs at home and perhaps a few to sell, so will 

 not be obliged to go to " the store " for what little fruit he wants. 



Mr. McWhorter. — It is best for farmers to attain a better knowl- 

 edge of the cultivation of fruits of all kinds which can be grown in their 

 locality. 



Dr. Schrceder. — This horticultural society was created to give 

 instructions in the art of growing fruits and vegetables. In the old 

 country the farmers with their other labor make a business of growing 

 and taking to market, as well as using at home, many varieties of fruits 

 and vegetables, and thereby profit in health and purse. In Europe the 

 women and children do most of this work, and I could not help observ- 

 ing, in traveling over those countries, how healthy and strong they were. 

 American women don't do enough work, especially in the garden. 

 Children should be taught to raise early and other vegetables and also 

 fruit. The farmer's wife should help the husband ; she should have 

 something to sell from the garden, and in this way would help support 

 the family and take some of the burdens off the husband. I have a great 

 deal of respect for our farmers' wives, but they don't work out of doors 

 enough to be healthy. They should raise all the fruit and vegetables on 

 the farm and not be running to the city to buy every little thing. 



