SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 341 



the great Northwest, occupying extended territory. Its reports 

 are out of print, and with the hope that this brief, imperfect 

 sketch of the transactions of horticulturists a generation since 

 may prove acceptable, it is prepared. 



Of the work done up to the present time by its progeny, the 

 state, district and local societies, you are well advised in their 

 published reports. How have they paid? Their membership 

 being of those engaged in horticultural pursuits, each one has 

 contributed something to the common fund of experience — the 

 best of all teachers. 



Much of the excellent work done by the late State Entomolo- 

 gists, Walsh, Le Baron, Thomas, and Prof. Forbes, may be 

 claimed as the result of their official appointment at the instance 

 of the State Horticultural Society. Through your Society Dr. 

 Henry Shinier, of Mt. Carroll, made known his discovery of the 

 Acarus preying upon the oyster-shell bark-louse, which was so 

 much dreaded by orchardists. For many years the lice have been 

 seldom heard of, and so far as they are concerned, apple-growers 

 can sleep well o'nights, as Dr. S. assured us the Acari would take 

 care of them. 



The planting of hedges, evergreen screens and timber has been 

 promoted greatly ; judicious selection of varieties of orchard fruits, 

 modes of propagation and management — the era for feasting the 

 millions on strawberries, grapes and other small fruits, has been 

 greatly hastened by the labors of horticultural societies. In some 

 instances they have enabled us to revise what was formerly re- 

 ceived as horticultural gospel. It has been said by them of 

 olden times : "Plant orchards on high, rolling land." The new ver- 

 sion says: "If it has a tenacious subsoil near enough the surface 

 to dry out in a dry time, don't plant there at all ; if you have level 

 land, with good, natural under-drainage, plant there every time." 



Many valuable institutions of our State, to-day, in no small de- 

 gree owe their inception, or their interests have been directly pro- 

 moted, by horticultural societies. They were largely instrumental 

 in securing legislative action for the endowment by Congress 

 of the State Industrial Universities, and paved the way for 

 the Farmers' Institutes — those valued schools for the masses 

 — the enactment of laws for protecting insectivorous birds 

 and for destroying noxious weeds. Aside from and above all 

 considerations of dollars and cents, a greater compensation is 

 returned in the good fellowship established and maintained by 

 them. 



THE PEAR. 



BY DR. BALLOU, SANDWICH. 



The pear is one of the most cherished of our long list of fruits, 

 and is truly one of God's blessings. It originated in Arminia, 

 and it soon made its pilgrimage over all Europe and finally 



