of> TRANSACTIONS OK TFIK ILLINOIS 



odds liuw intense — if ihey are in contact with complete moisture, even 

 what is termed dry snow affording an ahiiost complete protection. 



REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 



The Committee on President's Address reported, through Mr. 

 Johnson, as follows : 



Your committee would recommend : 



1. The adoption of the suggestion of our President, in reference 

 to the cultivation of orchards and fruit gardens. 



2. The publishing of a larger number of copies of the Transactions 

 of this Society; and that measures be adopted by the executive board, or 

 at this meeting, for their more general distribution among the fruit grow- 

 ers of the State. 



3. We would also highly recommend the adoption of some plan to 

 carry into effect the suggestions of the President, relating to an increase 

 of the number of signal stations in the agricultural districts, by which 

 the agriculturists, and horticulturists may be more generally benefited 

 by the meteorological observations of the Signal Service Bureau. We 

 think the Government can not go backward, but must go forward in this 

 matter, until even the sparsely settled portions of our land are offered the 

 benefits of the enterprise. 



4. We also recommend, that a committee of seven be appointed, 

 to make a collection of fruits for exhibition at the Centennial celebration 

 at Philadelphia. 



All of which is respectfully submitted. 



B. F. LONG, ) 



J. S. JOHNSON, Committee. 



A. C. HAMMOND. ) 



Prof. Tuner (of Jacksonville) protested against the too common 

 fault of broad generalizing in making up our reports. He said : Because 

 oaks and elms will do well in Morgan county is no reason why they will 

 succeed as well in Missouri. We look abroad over these wide prairies, 

 they look very much alike, and yet there is not a single mile square of 

 soil that does not vary more or less. We do not sufficiently realize the 

 great difference there is in the soils of this western country, and the effect 

 of soil upon the life of different varieties of trees and plants. 



I notice in our reports, recommendations of certain sorts of fruit for 

 Central Illinois. Now, I doubt whether we are competent to recommend 

 fruits suited even to Morgan county ; what is suited to one section, or to 

 one farm may not be suited to another. I think in making up our reports 

 we should guard against too broad generalization. If we would guard 

 this |)oint our reports would be more accurate and valuable. 



