246 ILLINOIS STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



arrive and depart every few minutes ; then visit her botanical and zoological gardens, 

 where may be seen the wonders both of the vegetable and animal kingdom that have 

 been collected from the four corners of the earth. Or take them to the Garden City, 

 and stop for a day or two at one of her palace hotels. Take them out for a sail upon 

 the lake, show them her magnificent parks, and the proud structures of marble and iron 

 that rise on every hand. Go down under the river where she has made a pathway for 

 her ever-increasing traffic ; visit the Exchange, Stock Yards and South Water street, the 

 great grain, stock and fruit markets of the continent; her exposition of industry, science 

 and art, which is well worth a journey of many hundred miles ; and lastly, stand upon the 

 corner of one of her great commercial thoroughfares and for a few moments watch the tide 

 of human life that surges by. And as they turn their faces homeward they will find new 

 thoughts and new aspirations welling up in their minds; their views of life will be 

 widened, and they will be better men and women than ever before. "But I cannot 

 afford it," is the reply we get, nine times out of ten, if we introduce this subject. But 

 by the aid of our Society this objection can, in a great measure, be obviated. We have 

 learned by experience that a company of excursionists of one or two hundred, under 

 the auspices of this Society, can visit any desirable point at a nominal cost, and with 

 the assurance of receiving that attention that will make our visit enjoyable. 



I would therefore recommend that a committee on excursions be added to the list 

 of standing committees, with the understanding that, if the indications are favorable, 

 arrangements may be made for an excursion to some point to be selected by them, in 

 August or September. 



I would also suggest the appointment of a committee on out-door home adornment, 

 with the primary object of arousing farmers to the importance of improving and beau- 

 tifying their homes, but also to embrace town, street, cemetery and other ornamental 

 planting. 



As the State Horticultural Society meets with us next winter we should make such 

 arrangements as may be necessary to make their visit pleasant. There does not seem 

 to be any formal action required at this time, but we should keep it in mind and before 

 the people, and let it be generally understood that we expect to have the largest meeting 

 and finest display of fruit ever known in the history of the Society. 



As the farmers of the county seem to be making a determined effort to organize an 

 agricultural society, it should, and doubtless will be, both our duty and pleasure to 

 encourage the movement, and when such an organization is perfected to give it our sup- 

 port and render all the assistance in our power towards making its annual fairs successful. 

 The idea seems to prevail in some places that we propose to merge our Society into a 

 county board; this is, of course, erroneous, yet it is possible for us, without impairing 

 our own efficiency, to render such an organization valuable aid. 



The old officers made full reports, showing the Society to be in a 

 better condition than ever before, with all claims fully paid and a hand- 

 some surplus in the treasury for 1880. 



A. C. Hammond was elected President ; Jos. L. Piggott, Vice- 

 President ; James T. Johnson, Secretary, and Chas. C. Hoppe, Treas- 

 urer. C. N. Dennis, of Hamilton, was elected Secretary pro tem. 



Messrs. Hoppe and Stracke made a report on finance. The report 

 was placed on file. 



On Floriculture, C. N. Dennis reports : Last winter was very severe 

 on out-door plants, except the bulbous varieties, and in-door or house 

 plants did so badly that our lady friends were compelled to commence 

 the season on short stocks ; the summer was unfavorable, yet deep-rooted 

 varieties did quite well. The season has been favorable to insect growth, 

 many of which have been carried to the house with the plants, where 

 they are quietly at work, and will need special attention before spring. 



