RICHYIEW HOIlTICULTURiVL SOCIETIES. 347 



was christened Onarga. (See report, of the same hi Western Rural.) Also elected the 

 following officers for the year : 



PitESiDENT— J. B. Chirk. Ri:c. Secuet.vry— E. ('. Hall. 



Vice Phesidext— E. D. Itobbins. Corkes. SECUETAiiY— L. Pike. 



Treastkeu— TI. Piuney. LinuAiUAX— J. W. Owen. 



To sum up: we have had poor crops of vegetables, good crops of Strawberries, 

 Easberries, Blackberries, Gooseberries, Currants, Cherries, and Pears. Apples slim 

 crop. Grapes almost entire foilure either in fruit or plants. We have had many 

 interesting and some important discussions. 



We have had our share of rot, and blight in grapes, rotten potatoes, &c. With the 

 farmer it is no better; but we have about done looking at black clouds and are now 

 busy, him ting the silver lining. 



The nursery of W. H. Mann, Esq., is about three and a half miles from Onarga, 

 and said to be the largest nursery in the world. 



LYMAX PIKE, Corresponding Secretary. 



EICHVIBW HORTICULTUEAL SOCIETY. 



It was in the years 1863-4 that fruit-growing commenced in the eastern part of 

 Washington county with a view to profit, [t is true that some liad planted apple and 

 other fruit trees before that time for family and market, but it was not with any view 

 of making it a business. The growers commenced with but little experience, and with 

 what they could learn from agricultural papers and some of the early works on fruit- 

 growing. 



The orchards, as well as the number of growers, kept increasing until 18'JG, when 

 those engaged in the business began to think they could learn by hearing and com- 

 paring each other's experience. A call was therefore issued by J. M. Hunter, at that 

 time a vice president of the Illinois Horticultural Society, for a meeting to be held in 

 Ashley, on the (5th of January, 186(5. At that time the Washington County Horticul- 

 tural Society was organized by eleven fruit-growers of the county. G. Wilgus, of 

 Richview, was its first President. The second meeting was held in Eichview on the 

 second of the next month, and the number of members was increased to twenty. Thus 

 monthly meetings were held alternately at Richview and Ashley for most of the year. 

 Two-thirds of all the members were citizens of Richview and vicinity. In the begin- 

 ning of the year 18GT, Or. Geo. Vasey was made President. But few meetings were 

 held this year; the last one was in April. 



In February, 1868, several of the members met to see what could be done towards 

 reviving the Society. It was found that the time lor electing officers, as required by 

 the constitution, had passed, and hence the Society had expired by limitation. It was 

 at once resolved to organize a local society. A committee was appointed to draft a 

 constitution, which reported at the next meeting in march, and the Richview Horti- 

 cultural Society was organized, with Dr. John H^de as President. 



But few meetings were held during the year of its organization. In 1869 regular 

 meetings were held — although somewhat thinlj' attended — every month, with the 



