TRANSACTIONS OF HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILL. 317 



It is a melancholy fact that farmers and their families, as a class, 

 supply the largest percentage for our insane asylums, and our best scient- 

 ists tell us this is due to the lack of ennobling influences among this 

 class. 



And it is another melancholy fact that the children of farmers prefer 

 to drive a horse car or an express wagon in the city than work on the 

 farm ; and this can be attributed also in a great measure to the former 

 cause. But, let me ask, if the surroundings of the farm home are made 

 pleasant and cheerful ; if the labor of the farm is conducted in a sys- 

 tematic way; if regular hours for labor and for rest are enforced, and if 

 order and system reign supreme in every department, will not such a 

 course be conducive to happiness and contentment? 



The eminent physician will impress on his convalescent patient that 

 happiness, contentment and rest are the most potent agents to a speedy 

 and healthy recovery — a bouquet of flowers is one of the peace offerings 

 of a sympathizing friend, and though some may say the life of the latter 

 is short, still we may speak of the flowers as we would of the souls of 



men: 



"They may look dead and passed away, 

 But they may bloom another day." 



(Applause.) 



REPORTS UPON EVERGREENS. 



Dr. W. A. Pratt, of Elgin, read a report upon the Culture of Ever- 

 greens, but did not furnish a copy for publication. 



Samuel Edwards, of Mendota, a member of the committee, fur- 

 nished the following, which was read by Secretary Galusha : 



Mr. President and Members of the Horticultural Society of Northern 

 Illinois : 



The growing of evergreens from seed is in most instances not 

 remunerative to any but those making it their principal business, and it 

 is not supposed to be the mission of your Society to instruct them. In 

 other words, it is much cheaper for most persons wanting evergreens, 

 even for general nurserymen, to buy them of from two to four years' 

 growth, than to grow them from seed. It is now generally known that 

 they are as readily transplanted as deciduous trees, if the roots are not 

 suffered to dry in the least while out of the ground. Plants less than a 

 foot in height should be set rather closely, in deeply-pulverized soil, well 

 watered, surface of ground heavily mulched and shaded by a screen of 

 brush, corn-stalks or any similar material. The oftener they are trans- 

 planted or root-pruned previous to setting where they are to remain 

 permanently the less risk in their final removal. Liberal mulching in 

 dry soils is preferable to cultivation. 



In making selections of varieties regard must be had to the soil. 

 Pines and junipers are especially adapted to dry soils; spruces and arbor 

 vitaes to wet. For bleak exposures Scotch pine is unrivaled. 



