266 ILLINOIS STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



the millions of Europe, which has even enabled the West in prolific years 

 to send to them of our abundance of fruit in its natural state, and yearly 

 of dried and otherwise preserved fruit. That we may still further foster 

 our noble art and render it capable of still further expansion we must 

 carry a common school system of horticulture into every neighborhood 

 in the State. I have reference to neighborhood societies, where the one, 

 two or three horticulturists in a neighborhood shall take the lead in get- 

 ting the people together occasionally to discuss in a social way how best 

 to accomplish the work in hand. I have but to point to two examples in 

 our own State that have shown marked results for good in meeting once 

 a month. These are the Warsaw and the Alton Societies. We should 

 have such scattered all over the State. Then we should not lack for fruit 

 anywhere ; good gardens would be the rule and not the exception. There 

 would be fewer doctors' bills to pay, and a large increase in the real 

 wealth of the country. 



These are all matters that it would be well for us to consider as among 

 the questions that should naturally come up. In the regular reports of 

 the several committees there will be ample scope for the discussion of the 

 various questions connected with the practice of our art, and I know 

 they will be carefully considered as they arise, so that when we shall have 

 finished the labors that have called us together in yearly session we may 

 part feeling and knowing that we have not only profited ourselves, but 

 added largely to the fund of general information for the people of North- 

 ern Illinois, not solely these engaged in horticulture as a profession, but 

 every farmer, every villager who owns even a rood of land ; not only these, 

 but of every person who has a home, however humble it may be. 



DISCUSSION UPON THE ADDRESS. 



Mr. Minkler. — If I had a horn long enough and could blow it loud 

 enough I would sound out the sentiments of this address till they reached 

 the Rocky Mountains. The people who own the lands, the farms, do not 

 realize the value of the work we are doing or the importance of tree- 

 planting; the horticulturists who constitute these societies are not a 

 class of men who meet to blow their own horns to increase their own 

 business. We leave our homes, pay our railroad fares and hotel bills 

 while attending the meetings; and for what? Almost without exception 

 from motives to serve our day and generation and provide for the gener- 

 ations which are to come after us ; our course would be no different if 

 we knew to a certainty that no pecuniary advantage would accrue to us. 



We have, sir, accomplished much. We began here in Illinois by 

 building and living in log houses, first settling near the groves, so we 

 could get timber to build our houses and fences with. No trees could 

 be seen over these wide wind-swept and desolate prairies. How is it 



