182 TEANSACTIONS OF THE HORTiCULTUKAL 



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About 1835, Edson Harkness settled in Trivoli, a few miles 

 miles south of this place, and a few years later, established a nur- 

 sery and planted an orchard. At that early day we find him experi- 

 menting with, and advocating the Osage Orange as a hedge plant, 

 and in the columns of the agricultural press urging the importance 

 of industrial education. With a prophet's ken he saw the possi- 

 bilities of this wonderful land, and the importance of an organiza- 

 tion of fruit-growers and nurserymen to foster the young industry. 



His first attempt, in 1845, seems to have failed, but in 1846 his 

 efforts were crowned with success, and a meeting was held in Peoria, 

 October 15th, of that year. This was the first horticultural meet- 

 ing held in the West of which we have any record. From the seed 

 here sown sprung the Illinois State Horticultural Society, and Mr. 

 Harkness may justly be claimed as its father, and Peoria County as 

 the birth-place of that organization. 



The old Monthhf Prairie Farmer preserves an address made by 

 him at that meeting, in which he seemed to look down the vista of 

 forty years, and see this God-given prairie state as we see it to-day. 

 His concluding remarks were so prophetic that I quote them: "In 

 my day dreams I have seen wide avenues stretching away in the dis- 

 tance, enclosed on either side with banners of living green. Along the 

 borders of these avenues, neat farm houses and cottages, the abode 

 of an industrious, intelligent and happy people — every dwelling 

 surrounded with beautiful trees, shrubs and vines. In the back- 

 ground, stately orchards, all gleaming with delicious fruits; well- 

 cultivated fields, rich meadows and pastures, dotted over with fat, 

 contented flocks and herds." If this noble man — long since gone to 

 that " better land " where the tree of life ever blooms beside the fair 

 river of paradise — is permitted to stand in the portals of Heaven and 

 look down on the scenes of his earthly life, how great must be his 

 astonishment to see the literal fulfillment of his waking vision! 



In the November number of the Prairie Farmer^ 1847, is an ac- 

 count of a meeting held in Farmington, Fulton county, on the 13th 

 of October of that year, which is called the Annual Meeting of the 

 Illinois Horticultural Society. 



Thus we see that Peoria county is rich in historical associations 

 and horticultural reminiscences; and as we look abroad upon its 

 pleasant rural homes, with their background of fruitful fields, and 

 surrounded with orchards and gardens, and beautiful trees and flow- 

 ers, we behold the harvest that sprung from the seed thus sown in 

 faith half a century ago. Let us cheerfully, yea, gladly, take up the 

 work our fathers have left us, and when the hour-glass of time shall 

 indicate that another half-century has passed into eternity, and this 

 "goodly heritage" becomes ten-fold more beautiful than to-day, our 

 children's children will "rise up and call us blessed." 



But what of the outlook r' Is the condition of our orchards, 

 berry plantations and fruit gardens satisfactory, and is all going 



