SOCIETY OF CENTEAL ILLINOIS. 233 



does it seem probable that topical applications will prove of practical 

 value. It does seem desirable, however, that the supply of pollen 

 should be as large as possible; and I believe that many of our grow- 

 ers would be benefited by planting a larger proportion of staminate 

 varieties. 



CATCHING AT STRAWS. 

 BY A. L. HAY, JACKSONVILLE. 



This is a strange and peculiar subject upon which to build an 

 address to be read before a people whose lives have been devoted to 

 such a pleasant and uniformly profitable pursuit as that of horticul- 

 ture. 



Were this a convention of drowning men, or an assembly of 

 "boodle" Aldermen about to be sentenced for their crimes, the 

 topic would seem much more appropriate. 



But we are a peculiar people; we have assembled for a peculiar 

 purpose. Our deliberations have so far been, and will hereafter be, 

 of a peculiar nature. The influence going out from this meeting 

 will be such as to give men and women peculiar ideas in regard to 

 strange and peculiar things, and will lead to peculiar investigations 

 which will develop peculiar facts, which will lead to a peculiar pros- 

 perity of not only our own nation, but of every nation on the face 

 of the earth. 



We are not here for the purpose of tearing down the works of 

 others that we may build upon their foundations. 



We are not here to advise the destruction of any interest, that 

 we may profit thereby, but we are here for the purpose of advising 

 with one another, that we may, if possible, develop some honest and 

 legitimate plan whereby we may accumulate fortunes which cast a 

 shadow over even that of Vanderbilt or J. Gould, and at the same 

 time bring increased pleasure, prosperity and happiness to every hon- 

 est creature on the globe. 



By reference to the programme you will see that the selection of 

 a subject for this occasion was left wholly to myself, and while stich 

 would appear to be a desirable position to occupy, I immediately 

 found myself as badly at sea in regard to what to write about as the 

 lady with an unlimited wardrobe and an unbounded credit in regard 

 to what she would wear at the coming social gathering, and after a 

 week or more of solid thought, T decided upon the above as giving 

 a wider range for gathering material than any other topic which pre- 

 sented itself to me. 



Legitimately considered, the " catching of straws " is supposed to 

 be the last resort of any one for the betterment of their own condi- 

 tion, and while these last and desperate efforts sometimes result bene- 

 ficially, they usually terminate in blasted hopes. The drowning man 

 grasps a handful of straws only to sink with them in death's embrace. 



