SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 339 



presidents ; F. K. Phoenix, corresponding secretary ; S. Edwards, 

 recording secretary; A. Bryant, treasurer. 



The third annual meeting was held in the City Hall, Chicago, 

 Oct. 4th, 1853, President J. A. Kennicott in the chair. Sessions 

 were held four days; 143 members enrolled from New York, 

 Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Iowa, Wisconsin, and nineteen counties 

 of Illinois. There was a large exhibit of apples, two collections of 

 eighty-six varieties each, and one of ninety-eight, pears one lot 

 ninety-eight varieties, peaches twenty varieties, plums five 

 varieties, orange quinces, nectarines, apricots, almonds, and five 

 varieties of grapes. 



Varieties of apples, grapes and pears were discussed largely, 

 peaches, plums and the small fruits to a less extent. The late 

 J. A. Wight delivered an excellent address on the elevating in- 

 fluence of horticulture which was published in the Transactions. 

 On motion of E. Harkness, a committee was appointed to me- 

 morialize Congress for the transmission of seeds and scions by 

 mail on same terms as printed matter. 



The magnificent display of fruits, floral decorations by the 

 veteran Samuel Brooks ; presence of so large a number of earn- 

 est men in the work — Charles Downing, Dr. Jno. A. Warder, A. 

 H. Ernst, Smiley Shepherd, Dr. John A. Kennicott, C. and A. 

 Bryant, C. R. Overman, L. Ellsworth, Wm. Stewart, M. L. Dun- 

 lap, L. Montague, E. Harkness, Wm. Bebb, E. Ordway, O. W. 

 Brewster, A. Williams, John Bellangee, P. B. Spaulding, D. F. 

 Kinney, James Smith, Isaac B. Essex, Dr. O. Everest, B. B. 

 Drake, I. F. Willard, C. Tolman, B. Treusdell, A. S. Coe, W. 

 C. Pearsall, J. P. Eames, and others, who have crossed the dark 

 river, to meet with us no more except in precious memory — the 

 occasion was one to be reverted to with fond recollection by ail 

 who were present. Arthur Bryant, president; R. Avery, J. C. 

 Brayton, and W. H. Loomis, vice-presidents; F. K. Phcenix, 

 corresponding secretary; J. T. Little and S. Edwards, recording 

 secretaries; A. R. Whitney, treasurer. 



The fourth meeting was held at Burlington, Iowa, Sept. 25-28, 

 1855, called to order by President A. Bryant. It was the most 

 largely attended, more from the Eastern States, and had the 

 finest display of fruits ever gathered at a meeting of the associa- 

 tion. Some 275 varieties of apples, 195 pears, eighteen plums, 

 eighteen peaches, only Catawba and Isabella grapes. 



A collection of over 100 varieties of fruits Dr. E. S. Hull sent 

 by express from Alton failed to arrive. In addition to the large 

 display of pears on the tables, trees of bearing size in the city 

 were loaded with fruit, and much time was devoted to discuss- 

 ing varieties, blight and mode of culture. 



A. Frost, of Rochester, suggested as a remedy for blight, 

 where a tree died of it, to send to Rochester and buy two more 

 in its stead — a policy it was my misfortune to adopt. (Of some 



