SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS 237 



I came from a portion of the country where trees were con- 

 sidered enemies, and the great question was how to destroy them, 

 but even there, there has been a change of sentiment, and they 

 are beginning to understand the importance of preserving them. 



Without trees, fruits and flowers, this world would, indeed, be 

 a vale of tears, and life scarcely worth the living. Our farmers 

 have been very negligent in this particular, but they will yet learn 

 that there is profit in them, and that where fruit is largely used as 

 an article of diet, the bills for pills and quinine are greatly 

 reduced. 



Horticulturists are, as a rule, intelligent, educated men, always 

 interested in educational questions. We, therefore, hope to see 

 you at the University, and I cordially invite you to vi^it us before 

 you return to your homes. 



RESPONSE BY PRESIDENT DENNIS. 



Several other points desired this meeting, and the question may 

 be asked, Why was Normal selected? First, we knew that we 

 should receive a cordial welcome, and, second, that the influ- 

 ences that have gone out from this University will have prepared 

 the way for an interesting and profitable meeting. If, as the 

 Doctor remarked, "brevity is the soul of wit," I will be even 

 more witty than he, and we will proceed with the programme. 



SECRETARY'S REPORT. 



BY A.C. HAMMOND, WARSAW. 



Few persons comprehend the immense quantity and the great 

 value of the horticultural products of our State. Our orchards 

 annually yield millions of bushels of apples ; the berry plan- 

 tations are so extensive that special trains run to accommodate 

 the business ; the rich fruitage of ten thousand vineyards is found 

 in every western market, w T hile the products of unnumbered fruit 

 and vegetable gardens add to the luxuries of the farmers' homes 

 and the estimate of $10,000,000 as the annual value of these pro- 

 ducts, sold and consumed at home, in the entire State, and 

 $3,500,000 in Central Illinois, I think a very reasonable one. 



We, therefore, see that the value of our horticultural products 

 is enormous. But aside from this question of dollars and cents 

 there are questions of the highest importance connected with 

 fruit growing, forestry, gardening and ornamental planting. 



That every farm in Central Illinois should be surrounded with 

 these evidences of refinement, an orchard, garden, lawn, groves 

 and ornamental trees, all will admit. Why then do we so often 

 find them wanting? Why is the orchard going to decay, and no 

 effort made to renew it? Why is the garden neglected, and the 

 grounds about the house uncared for, untidy and repulsive? 



