350 ILLINOIS STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



advancement such as to yield the fullest satisfaction ? What have we 

 learned in regard to the varieties of the apple, for instance ? What the 

 best for general cultivation within the bounds of this Society, known as 

 the Northern Horticultural Division of the State of Illinois? What, for 

 the past decade of years, has been the increased market value of the apple 

 crop? What the increased aggregate value of all fruits within this 

 district ? 



It is too often the case that unworthy varieties of fruits receive the 

 indorsement of horticultural and pomological societies, introduced and 

 recommetided by some sanguine individual, in which, perchance, self-interest 

 may be the unconscious influence impelling to the earnest, tmqualified 

 recommendation of the "pet." This is not only a misfortune to, but a 

 great wrong upon, the fruit growing-public. Let us guard against the 

 recommendation of any variety without positive evidence of its being 

 worthy. 



I would recommend the adoption of such measures as will bring 

 before this Society, at its annual meetings, an exhibition of fruits grown 

 within our district, and by the exhibitor, accompanied with a list of the 

 varieties, a statement of the manner of planting, and after-culture of the 

 orchard, the character of the soil, the subsoil, whether drained or not 

 drained, aspect, sheltered or not sheltered ; if the former, whether by 

 natural groves or planted timber-belts, or screens, deciduous or evergreens. 

 I suggest the reference of the subject to the Executive Committee, or to 

 a committee appointed for the purpose, with instructions to prepare a list 

 of premiums, which, for the want of funds, must be diplomas or certificates. 

 This list should be published and circulated. I trust this subject will receive 

 at your hands the consideration and action its importance merits, for I fully 

 believe that when soils, their proper preparation, with the other necessary 

 surroundings, together with varieties the best adapted for general and 

 local cultivation, are fully understood, there will be less complaint of the 

 failure of fruit and loss of trees. 



I ask your consideration to that great and important interest — For- 

 estry. Its importance seems to have been lost sight of, or not fully 

 realized or understood ; or else, in the desire for immediate returns for 

 our labor, we neglect the planting of trees for timber, and other purposes 

 which wood is used for. 



We, as a State, are far behind many of our Western sister States. 

 Iowa alone, in 1874, planted twelve million trees — so stated by Hon. J. 

 F. Allen, President of the State Horticultural Society of Iowa. 



Governor Routt, of Colorado Territory, considered the subject of 

 timber-tree planting of such importance that he brought the subject before 

 the Constitutional Convention, now in session at Denver, recommending 

 the incorporation of a provision in the Constitution to encourage and 

 secure timber-tree planting. 



Our own State Board of Agriculture, in 1873, offered premiums "for 

 the encouragement of planting useful timber-trees" — one hundred dollars 

 for the best one acre, five hundred dollars for the best five acres, but there 

 was no response — not a single entry. 



