SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 337 



ducements offered were sufficient to justify its going there. If not, 

 to locate the meeting where they deemed best. 



DO HORTICULTURAL SOCIETIES PAY? 



BY SAMUEL EDWARDS, PEORIA. 



The first meeting of the horticulturists in this State, with more 

 than local attendance, was convened at the solicitation of the late 

 lamented Edson Harkness, then of Peoria county, who died many 

 years since in California. It was held Oct. 13th, 1847, at Farm- 

 ington, Fulton county, and took the name of Illinois Horticul- 

 tural Society, Dr. Hannaford, president; C. R. Overman, secre- 

 tary. 



Some forty varieties of apples, three or four of pear, and 

 orange quince were on exhibition. An able address was given by 

 Edson Harkness, devoted mostly to orchard-fruits and hedging. 

 Mr. Harkness and the Messrs. Overman, of Fulton county, were 

 propagating the Virginia Thorn, and had had fears that the Osage 

 Orange being introduced by Prof. J. B. Turner, was not hardy 

 enough to withstand our winters. 



John Hancock, of Tazewell county, had samples of the latter — 

 had been growing them several years — claimed to have been the 

 first introducer of it in this State. Isaac Merriam, of Tazewell 

 county, was sanguine in the hope that the quince would be suc- 

 cessfully grown. 



Interesting discussions were had on best mode of propagating 

 fruit trees and orchard management, ravages of insects and how 

 to control them. 



Small fruits, which have since then justly occupied so much at- 

 tention, were not discussed. Elijah Capps, of Fulton Co., Bar- 

 tlett Walker and Mr. Godfrey, of Knox Co., Mr. Watson, of Hen- 

 derson Co., W. J. Phelps, Peoria Co., Boyd Bros., Mr. Dewey, 

 H. S. Hiatt and James Bull took an active interest in the meeting, 

 and there was a large attendance of farmers' families from the 

 vicinity. Adjourned to meet at Peoria in Sept. 1848, but of this 

 no account has been made public. The 160 miles round trip to 

 Farmington with wife and little ones in wagon, has always been 

 considered a paying one. 



A meeting of pomologists was held at Princeton, Dec. 18 and 19, 

 1850. Edson Harkness, chairman, F. K. Phoenix, secretary. The 

 two-days' sessions were occupied mostly in discussing varieties of 

 apples, and forming a permanent organization. Adjourned to 

 meet at Princeton, Oct. 1st, 1851. 



The appointment was met by a general attendance of fruit-grow- 

 ers from Northern Illinois: also R. Avery, of Iowa, J. C. Bray- 

 ton, of Wisconsin, and W. M. Wylie, of Michigan. John H. 

 Bryant, chairman, Samuel Edwards, secretary. Two days of 

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