332 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL 



Tetofsky, Sweet June and my new earliest of all. Second early, 

 Duchess of Oldenburg, Gravenstein and Strawberry. 



Third, Jeffries, this is the best of all the fall apples and is as 

 good as a pear, Shiawassa Beauty, Snow, Maryland Redstreak, 

 Hoss, Maiden's Blush and Victor. 



Winter. — Perry Russet, Salome, Wythe, Willow, Grimes 

 Golden, Tallman Sweet and Roman Stem. 



BENEFITS OF HORTICULTURAL SOCIETIES. 



BY LEN SMALL, KANKAKEE. 



How am I to describe the benefits of local Horticultural 

 Societies ? If I should say they are social, intellectual, educa- 

 tional, physical and financial, it would almost cover the ground. 

 But if we say that Horticultural Societies tend to improve and 

 strengthen every beneficial trait of character in men and women, 

 we have a truer definition. 



Martin's old civil government which we used to study told us 

 that "men are social beings; that society is a necessity; that, 

 without society, government would not exist." Difiiculties 

 between men are usually caused by misunderstandings, or look- 

 ing at things from different standpoints. Intelligence and 

 social acquaintance, does more to promote peace than all the 

 improved means and weapons of war, scientific and ingenious 

 man can produce. The local horticultural organization will 

 bring together people that would never meet under other cir- 

 cumstances; people of every religious faith and political belief. 

 There are but few purposes for which associations are organized 

 that have for their object a field so large, so varied, and one 

 which can be made so interesting to so large a number of people. 



No one will deny that Horticultural Societies have done much 

 towards awakening people to the beauties, the benefits and 

 necessities of horticulture. A person cannot be an active 

 member of a live Horticultural Society, and listen to the dis- 

 cussions, without thinking; and, as a noted scientist once said, 

 thought, is the channel through which all knowledge comes. By 

 attending Horticultural Meetings, many persons who never 

 cared much about trees and flowers, have become interested in 

 them, and when a person once begins growing and caring for 

 trees and flowers, especially if their efforts are stimulated by a 

 local society, they are likely to succeed. The members of a 

 local Horticultural Society, by availing themselves of the expe- 

 rience of their neighbors, may be able to save much valuable 

 time, labor and money, as millions of dollars have been thrown 

 away by the purchase of trees and plants unsuitable to the 

 climate and soil. 



There is not a county in this State that a Horticultural Society 

 could not be made a success in, if there are as many as three 



