6 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



Being assured by those we supposed understood the situation, 

 that the Committee on Appropriations would be governed largely in 

 their action by that of the Committee on Agriculture, and further, 

 that if any serious opposition should be developed they would secure 

 a postponement of action, and call us before this committee, we left 

 it in their hands. This, however, they failed to do, but had it been 

 done, and the same facts presented that proved so potent with the 

 first committee, I have no doubt they would have recommended its 

 passage instead of cutting it down one-half. 



Perhaps it is unnecessary to say, that it was not for lack of 

 interest or any unwillingness to give the subject all the time re- 

 quired, that the President and myself did not spend more time in 

 Springfield, but because of the positive assurance that it was un- 

 necessary. 



New fields are opening and inviting us to enter in and possess 

 them. New work is presenting itself every year. The demand for 

 our reports is greater than we have the means to supply, but if we 

 do all we can with our present appropriation I am very confident 

 that the next Legislature will grant us the necessary sum. 



I would suggest the appointment at this time of a committee of 

 three on ''Needed Legislation, " with instructions to report at the 

 next annual meeting. 



It has often occurred to me that some means of bringing every 

 portion of the State into a closer relationship with the State Horti- 

 cultural Society might and should be devised. At present less than 

 half the counties are ever represented at our meetings, or receive a 

 copy of our report; and strange as it may appear, there are tens of 

 thousands of prosperous farmers in the state who do not know of 

 the existence of such an institution as the State Horticultural So- 

 ciety, and thousands of others who suppose that our only work is in 

 the interest of the commercial fnnt-grower. 



But if they can be made to understand that our primary 

 work is to encourage the planting of family orchards, fruit, 

 vegetable and flower gardens, groves, shelter belts and ornamental 

 trees, and to make our rural homes bright and attractive, they will 

 at once become interested in it. 



But the important question is, how can these men be reached ? 

 1 have given the question some thought, but no satisfactory conclu- 

 sion has been reached. A plan something like the following is as 

 good as anything I can now suggest. Divide the State into ten 

 districts, with about ten counties in each, and appoint an ad-interim 

 committee of ten members, one in each district, and make it their 

 duty to appoint one or more assistants in each county, who will be 

 expected to report to their principal at stated periods, giving all 

 facts that may be of general interest, such as new and promising 

 varieties of fruit that may come under their observation, successful 

 modes of culture, insect depredations and methods of combating 



