272 ILLINOIS STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



After adjournment came the usual closing scene of these friendly 

 gatherings, in the form of a substantial repast, furnished by Mr. Beecher 

 and his excellent lady. 



MAY MEETING. 



The meeting in May was held at the residence of Judge Cunningham. 

 The officers for the ensuing year were elected at this meeting. See 

 list above. 



NOVEMBER MEETING. 



The meeting was held at Mr. A, O. Howell's residence on the 27th. 

 The routine business of the Society having been disposed of, Mr. 

 Thomas Franks read the following essay on 



ORNAMENTAL HORTICULTURE. 



The subject which has been assigned me is one which, viewed by dif- 

 ferent persons, would present as many varied aspects. One person's 

 ideal would be grounds nicely graded and sodded, with a few good shade 

 trees surrounding it, with perhaps an evergreen here and there by way of 

 variety. This is certainly a very simple and effective way of disposing of 

 your ornamental department, and is one that commends itself to every 

 one, for it will require comparatively little after labor to keep it in order, 

 and those whose time or taste will not allow them to spend much time or 

 money, had better confine themselves to the above plan. This same plan 

 must serve for the ground and frame work of the most elaborate gardens; 

 for what would be the most gorgeous display of flowers, the chaste and 

 elegant statuary and vases, the rippling stream or silvery lake, without the 

 emerald green of the grass to relieve the eye, or the light and airy forms 

 of trees and shrubs to ease and lighten the stiff and formal works of art 

 which cast their shadows in the ever-changing waters? I say, without 

 these two staunch friends it would be almost impossible to have gardens 

 that we could admire without tiring the eye. It is therefore important that 

 we have plenty of trees and grass ; but how to dispose of the trees to the 

 best advantage, and to derive the most pleasure from them, is not so easy 

 a matter. This will require some study. A knowledge of their habits 

 and colors at different seasons will materially aid you in arranging them 

 in their proper places. And right here would be a good place to say a 

 few words about planting. There seems to be but two prevailing ideas 

 about the disposition of trees around the house and garden. They are 

 either planted in straight rows or scattered promiscuously around the 

 grounds. There are situations where two straight rows of trees have a 



