350 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



shall we plant, that we may have bearing orchards? What are the most profitable 

 varieties of cherries, raspberries, strawberries? What are the best climbing roses, 

 June roses, Hybrid Perpetuals, Bourbons and Norsette roses? What twelve dahlias 

 are the freest and most perfect bloomers? What twelve annuals afford the best and 

 most constant bloom? What perennials are most desii'able? What shall Vv^e plant to 

 transplant?" 



All persons who love fruit and flowers, young and old, are invited to be present. 

 The ladies, especially, who take so much delight in having home and its siu-roundings 

 attractive and beautiful, are invited to lend the inspiration of their presence and 

 approval to a pursuit that embodies as much of taste, culture and refinement as any 

 other branch of the tine arts. The right kind of spirit, energy and enthusiasm is 

 manifested in the reorganization of the Society. Now let every member work with a 

 strong will and muscle, and let us all crown the memory of the summer of 1870 with 

 the finest floral exhibition that Eockford ever saw. K. 



WAESAW HOETIOULTUEAL SOCIETY. 



OFFICERS FOK 1S69. 



President— Asaph C. Hammond. 

 Vice President — Charles C. HopiDe. 

 Secretary and Treasurer — Thomas Gregg. 



OFiacE OF Secretary, Hamilton, 111., January 15, 1870. 

 O. B. Galusha, Esq., Secretary 111. State Eortitultural Society: 



Dear Sir : I proceed to make my Annual Report of the proceedings of this Society. 

 I do so under a sense of discouragement at the little positive progress that seems to 

 have been made in the four years during which the Society has had an existence. We, 

 in common with other horticulturists, have theorized and discussed, have read and 

 re-read, have practiced and experimented, and yet it would seem that but little 

 actual, positive knowledge has been acquired. To-day there seems to be as many 

 open questions in horticulture, or nearly so, as at any time within the past four years. 

 Doubt seems to hang upon every question — many of them the most important ones 

 that can engage our attention. I will not undertake here to inquire into the reason 

 of this, but leave its discussion to minds of deeper penetration than mine. 



And yet, it will not do to say that no progress has been made. If we are not pro- 

 gressing — if we are all at a stand -still — not reaching any higher mark in the scale of 

 horticultural improvement, then we had better cease our elforts. Our time, our 

 money, our energies, will have been thrown away. There is positive improvement, 

 in this one thing at least. We are daily learning to know and to realize that theory is 

 nothing— that patient, careful investigation is everything; that speculation is folly; 

 that demonstration is msdom. 



Our associations are slowly doing their work. They are directing the public mind 

 to the subject of horticulture. They are creating a spirit of inquiry among the 



