366 ILLINOIS STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Dr. Ennis called attention to the fact that the cultivation of the 

 orchids is receiving much attention \ and that inasmuch as Mr. Cochran, 

 who is now with us, has one of the finest collections of these wonderful 

 plants in the United States, moved that he be requested to talk to us, at 

 this meeting, upon this family of plants. 



This request was made by unanimous vote of the Society, and Mr. 

 Cochran consented to comply. 



Mr. Nelson presented the following : 



Resolved, That in the discussions of this session, no member shall be permitted to 

 speak more than twice upon any subject or question, except by vote of the Society, until 

 all present have had an opportunity of speaking; and that each person be confined to 

 five minutes for the first and three minutes for the second time in speaking. 



The resolution passed unanimously. 



Mr. J. H. Garrison, of Greenwood, McHenry county, read the 

 following : 



ORNAMENTAL TREES, SHRUBS, HEDGES, ETC. 



THEIR VALUE IN HOME GROUNDS — THE BEST MANNER OF PLANTING, TRAIN- 

 ING AND HANDLING THE SAME — FAILURE : ITS CAUSE AND EFFECT, ETC. 



The subject of planting and handling trees is an endless one, and 

 one that requires a lifetime of study and practice, in order to acquire the 

 first rudiments to complete success ; and, with our somewhat limited 

 experience, we find ourselves wholly incompetent to do the subject 

 justice. Practice and observation of the experience of others, combined, 

 may perhaps enable us to advance a few hints, beneficial to those who 

 have given the subject some attention, but who may not have a sufficiently 

 distinct view of many of its important points. 



The question of actual profit in dollars and cents, in planting orna- 

 mental trees and shrubbery, is not to be so exactly shown as it has been 

 with fruit trees ; yet there is a vast profit herein, not limited to the 

 immediate advantage of the planter or purchaser of the property so 

 embellished. Who can have failed to note that, when a piece of real 

 estate is offered for sale, its ornamental trees and plants, if well selected 

 and properly cared for, always add a charm which finds recognized value 

 in the increased price paid by the purchaser? 



Who, in passing through a strange country, can fail to observe, as 

 an index to the character, thrift and industry of its inhabitants, the lack 

 or supply of its fruit, shade and ornamental trees? No person, however 

 unobserving, upon approaching, in mid-winter, a dwelling cosily embow- 

 ered within its circle of bright green evergreen screens and hedges, with 

 its clumps of fine shrubbery, interspersed here and there with some low- 

 growing, closely-trained evergreens, can but feel a warmth of welcome, 

 amounting almost to that "true inwardness" of which the renowned 

 Beecher has spoken ? 



