SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 367 



Mr. Periam offered the following resolution, which was unani- 

 mously adopted : 



Resolved, That in the paper of Mr. Samuel Edwards the Socie- 

 ty has received much valuable information, particularly in what 

 relates to the early history of horticulture in the West, and that 

 the thanks of the Society are hereby tendered to our venerable 

 friend and co-worker in horticultural art and taste, and that the 

 Secretary be instructed to forward a copy of this resolution to 

 his name at Peoria. 



Following the adoption of the above resolution the Congrega- 

 tional choir, of Sandwich, rendered some excellent music, after 

 which Mr. Coe read the following paper: 



THE VILLAGE GARDEN AS AN ECONOMIZER. 



BY E. G. COE, SANDWICH. 



The village garden is either a nuisance and source of w r orse 

 than useless expense, or it is a joy and source of profit, to its 

 possessor. To make it the former, the recipe is simple, and the 

 powers of nature join to make it a complete success. If you care 

 to try the experiment in a practical way, so as to know just how 

 perfect a nuisance your garden can be made to your neighbors 

 and yourself , put a man and team upon it with a plow while it is 

 just reasonably sticky. Then let it lie until it dries into chunks. 

 Now plant and sow it. You may be sure that kind nature will 

 see to it that there is a growth of vegetation there, and if your 

 vegetables come up, they will have plenty of company. Do not 

 spend your valuable time, too much of it, with the hand-plow, 

 hoe or rake. There are plenty of dry-goods boxes which need 

 holding down, and the elements will take care of your garden. If 

 you happen to be attacked by a spasm of industry, you may, 

 when the weeds have fairly covered the ground, give it a good 

 hoeing; but be sure to do so just before a rain, and leave the 

 ground well covered with what you have cut up. In this way, the 

 weeds will increase and multiply; and, while you may get a few 

 messes of lettuce and peas, you will be certain to have a fine crop 

 of weeds, which will seed the grounds of everyone on your block, 

 and you can tell your fellow loafers that you know that it does 

 not pay to make a garden in a village, and demonstrate the truth 

 of your assertion by showing them your own. 



To make a garden a source of joy and profit, is not so simple a 

 process. It requires some thought, some calculation, and a fair 

 amount of work. Nature is just as ready to help in this as in the 

 former, but her forces are blind, and need guidance. 



Take the same piece of ground with which you made such a 

 success in the way of a nuisance. Instead of a team and plow, give 



