lyS TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



valuable a bird as the sparrow, just acclimated at so much expense in America, the crow, 

 the raven, and many other birds of acknowledged utility, still outlawed in individual 

 cantons, when we see that the destruction of all birds is still permitted at certain seasons 

 in some, and that in others only the smaller and least essential singing-birds are pro- 

 tected, while the most useful of all are excluded from the protection of law, we are 

 forced to express an earnest desire that in the cantons where this half legislation still 

 exists a change may soon be made more in conformity to the present stand-point of 

 science." 



The prayer this writer utters in regard to the half legislation of Switzerland, I 

 would fain repeat in regard to the half legislation which now does discredit to Massa- 

 chusetts. 



But my time is exhausted and I will trespass upon your patience no longer. I will 

 only add, in conclusion, that the two points I most desire to impress upon you, drawn 

 from the experience of Europe, are, the dangers to us of America arising from the 

 unchecked development of destructive insects on the one hand and the unchecked 

 diminution of their natural preventives, the birds, on the other. The subject in these 

 twofold relations is, I am convinced, well worthy of your gravest consideration. Mill- 

 ions upon millions of dollars may be saved or lost as we of this country are or are not 

 wise in time. We already see in the ever-increasing ravages of the canker-worms, 

 curculios, army-worms, locusts and potato-bugs wide-spread seeds of future, not distant 

 calamities, just as the spray that wets the seaman's cheek warns him of the wave that is 

 gathering its might to overwhelm him. 



Jonathan Periam, of Chicago, President of the Horticultural Society 

 of Northern Illinois, invited the members present to attend the annual 

 meeting of that Society, to be held in Elgin, January 27th, 28th and 

 29th, 1880. 



The President then declared the meeting adjourned till to-morrow 

 morning at half-past eight, at the usual place. 



THIRD DAY— MORNING. 



At the appointed hour on Thursday morning the President called the 

 meeting to order, requesting Rev. G. W. MiNiERto open the meeting with 

 prayer, which he did. 



The President. — The first business in order this morning is the 

 election of officers and fixing the place of the annual meeting of 1880. 



LOCATION OF MEETING. 



Mr. MiNiER read the following preamble and resolutions : 



Whereas : The Horticultural Society of Illinois has had an existence for many 

 years, and much material good has been accomplished, as well as intellectual advance- 

 ment made ; still, we wish for greater good and greater advancements. To attain these 

 ends we offer the following resolutions : 



1st Resolved, That this Society shall hereafter hold its sessions in the rooms of the 

 State Board of Agriculture, in the city of Springfield, during the biennial sessions of the 

 Legislature and in the first week of the sessions of the Board of Agriculture. 



