STATE HOKTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



83 



Really important information and interesting reading is buried almost 

 beyond hope of resurrection. Our annual volumes are valuable in the 

 proportion that generally unreadable and uninstructive matter is left out. 

 The size of the book is an item of no consequence, except that it must 

 not be too large. The binding and general appearance is an important 

 matter, and I congratulate the Society that this has been so carefully 

 attended to in recent years. 



I recommend that the Executive Board be instructed — though it is 

 their privilege to do so without instruction — to make or cause to have 

 made a very careful revision of the matter furnished for publication, with 

 the view of excluding everything not of real and general interest, and 

 that we as loyal members consent and agree beforehand to such revision. 

 I am informed that changes would have sometimes been made but for 

 fear of giving offense. This hinderance ought certainly to be removed. 

 Of course the matter offered by subordinate organizations would have to 

 pass the same ordeal. Selected and contributed articles, not part of the 

 proceedings, are by law authorized and may with much profit be substi- 

 tuted for material, however useful for the meeting, not important in print. 

 There is an abundance of matter that would not probably reach the readers 

 of our volumes, at least in permanent form, that would greatly aid in 

 making the books useful and our Society increasingly instrumental in 

 accomplishing its good work. 



I further recommend that all contributors of articles accepted for 

 publication, whether read at the meeting or not, upon request made before 

 the printer obtains the paper, be furnished with twenty-five copies of the 

 sheets as prepared for binding, containing said articles. If worth printing 

 at all, these articles are worthy of distribution, and no one would be more 

 likely than the writer to interest himself in placing them where they will 

 do the most good. In many cases such extra sheets would accomplish the 

 purpose of a volume, and be more serviceable in gaining the direct atten- 

 tion sought for them. This is a common custom and can be carried out 

 at little expense. No alteration of printer's composition, not even the 

 paging, need be made. A little pasting and stitching is about all the 

 extra labor required, besides running off the extra sheets. 



In conclusion, permit me to say that the enthusiasm aroused and the 

 knowledge gained at our meeting can avail but little if they are allowed 

 10 be as a light under a bushel, or worse still, as lamps slowly extinguished 

 for want of trimming. Let us, as apostles of good news and glad tidings, 

 by examples at our homes, by friendly counsels with our neighbors, by 

 the reading of and contributions to current publications, by deeds of 

 interest and of love, by self-sacrifice if necessary, strive to bear worthily 

 and well, individually and collectively, our part in the grand mission, 

 thus to be fulfilled, of the Illinois State Horticultural Society. (Applause.) 



Dr. Humphrey introduced Miss Sally Soper, a delegate from the 

 Indiana State Horticultural Society, who was made an honorary member. 



