330 ILLINOIS STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Trusting that your stay with us may be pleasant to you, and mutually 

 beneficial to us all, I again repieat, a hearty welcome to you all. 



THE PRESIDENT'S REPLY. 



The President responded to this cordial welcome in a few appro- 

 priate words, substantially as follows : 



In behalf of the Horticultural Society of Northern Illinois, I thank 

 you for this hearty welcome. 



Permit me to assure you, as the "elder brother" of the "little 

 sister," we feel an attachment for and a pride in such a sister. It will 

 be one of the pleasantest memories — this warm and hearty greeting. 

 The family ties should be cultivated, strengthened and intensified. This 

 promotes usefulness and happiness. 



We feel an assurance that our stay will be pleasant to us ; our strong 

 desire is, that it may be beneficial, in some small degree, to you. We 

 ask your co-operation in our deliberations. Again, we thank you, our 

 little sister. 



APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES. 



On motion of Mr. Scott, a Committee on Programme was appointed, 

 as follows : Messrs. Scott, McWhorter and Seeley. 



The following Committee on Printing was also appointed : Messrs. 

 Galusha, Ellsworth and L. K. Scofield. 



REPORT ON PROGRAMME. 



Mr. Scott presented the following as the order of business for the 

 remainder of the day : 



1. Pruning fruit trees — to promote health of trees, bearing and 

 quality of fruit ; an essay by S. G. Minkler, of Oswego, Kendall county. 



2. Discussions upon pruning, 



3. Orchards — planting and culture, for home and market purposes ; 

 a paper by A. B. Austin, of Downer's Grove. 



4. Discussions upon orchard culture. 



PRESENTATION OF FLOWERS. 



Dr. Ennis (of Clinton, Iowa,) presented a flower stand containing 

 a collection of very beautiful flowers, artistically arranged, which was 

 placed upon the table by Secretary Scott. 



Upon receiving the flowers the President said : 



I am grateful for this expression of your respect and regard. I do 

 not consider it, however, as so much personal to myself as it is a tribute 

 to the Society over which I am called to preside. I love flowers. I see 



