INTRODUCTORY. 



An apology is needed for the very tardy appearance of this volume, 

 which has no doubt been a source of vexation to the members of the 

 various Societies whose transactions are included in it, and certainly 

 has been much more vexatious to the writer than it can have been to 

 any one not held responsible for the delay. The fact that it was two 

 months after the meeting before the reporter's manuscript was all in 

 the hands of the editor, and unusual slowness on the part of the prin- 

 ters (who have, however, exercised great care in doing their work 

 well), are the main causes of delay. 



Arrangements will be made this year to insure the going to press 

 of the Transactions as soon as the Galesburg meeting is closed, and 

 so avoid a repetition of this insufferable delay. 



The Executive Committee have taken the responsibility of incur- 

 ring the expense of the portrait of B. J). Walsh, which they believe 

 will be highly valued by all our members as a memento of the valued 

 and eccentric scientist who first occupied the position of State Ento- 

 mologist. Illustrations of T)r. Hull's curculio catcher, of his investi- 

 gations of pear blight and graft selection, and of Mr. Riley's valuable 

 paper on the curculio, have been kindly loaned by the Prairie Farmer 

 Company, and E. P. Studley & Co. of the Journal of Agriculture. 



An attempt has been made to classify the fruit and other lists 

 botanically, so as to popularize the natural orders of plants in our 

 tables of reference. 



It was found best in this case, and probably will be hereafter, for 

 the out-going Secretary to edit the volume for which he has gathered 

 the material. 



In conclusion, it is with some natural feeling of regret that the 

 writer closes his labors in this department and turns over his duties 

 to another. The pleasant although sometimes arduous labors of his 

 office, the friendly associations it has originated, and the pretty gen- 

 eral approval that his efforts to advance the art of Horticulture, 

 through perfecting the organization of its friends, have met, will be 

 long and gratefully remembered. W. C. F. 



