SOCIETY OF CEXTKAL ILLINOIS. 2G3 



Mr. Periam — The paper is a valuable one. We must experi- 

 ment and investigate. Here is where our experiment stations 

 may do very valuable work. An individual may spend a life time 

 in the work and leave the experiment unfinished. If the man 

 having charge of a station dies, his successor may take it up and 

 complete it. 



On motion of Dr. Schroeder, a vote of thanks was tendered to 



Mr. McKinney for his able paper. 



CULTURE OF STONE FRUITS. 



BY G. W. MIXIER, MINIER. 



Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: 



Were we called upon to say what body of men have been doing, 

 and still are doing, the most practical good for the masses, 

 would we, could we honestly leave out of that catalogue, the 

 agriculturist and horticulturist? 



''The Farmer Pays for All," is the telling title of a picture 

 which you all have probably seen. But horticulture is the refine- 

 ment of agriculture, and they should be honestly combined. 



Agriculture is the foundation of good society, and horticulture 

 is the religion of farming, which smooths and ennobles rural life. 

 So far are these two noble occupations from being antagonistic; 

 they are mutually helpful. They are, or ought to be wedded. 

 Bachelordom and spinstership are not normal conditions of man- 

 kind, although they do, sometimes, make a precarious livelihood. 

 So farming and gardening may struggle on without being united 

 in holy wedlock, but it is not handsome, delightful nor profit- 

 able. 



And now, ladies and gentlemen of the "Central Illinois Horti- 

 cultural Society," a few thoughts are submitted to you by your old 

 friend, on the trite subject of raising stone fruits in Central Illi- 

 nois. By stone fruits I mean such as hard seed, inside the peri- 

 carp. You will excuse me for neglecting the use of technical terms. 

 Your professors in your university may attend to that and I will 

 confine myself to practical work. Horticulture is an art that 

 mends and adorns nature, but does not mar her. Some years 

 since, in the City of Washington and before that body of thought- 

 ful men, "The American Forestry Congress," I said it is prudent 

 to plant indigenous, not exotic trees. 



This called out the good matured but severe criticism of my 

 warmest friends, but is now, I believe, admitted by all to be but 

 good, practical common sense, and is no heresy in tree planting. 



I was never in my life accused of being too orthodox, even in 

 matters theological, and may, perhaps be almost a heretic in tree 



