80 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



Reports were given of cherries, raspberries, strawberries, grape* 

 and early apples being destroyed by great flocks of them, near the 

 towns and cities, it being the opinion of a large majority present 

 that if unmolested, they would become a national scourge, to people 

 in country and town. Cases of parties shooting and dissecting their 

 stomachs were given, sixty grains of wheat having been found in 

 one bird in one hour after daylight, and not one insect. 



EVENING SESSION, DEC. 8. 



A committee appointed to present petitions for National Horti- 

 cultural Experiment Stations, which calls for fifteen thousand dol- 

 lars per annum, the work to be carried on in connection with the 

 Agricultural College. 



The Society recommended that individual members petition our 

 Representatives and Congressmen to bring about the desired 

 changes. 



Next came election of officers for the ensuing year. Sylvester 

 Johnson, of Iverington, Ind., was duly elected President. C. M. 

 Hobbs, of Bridgeport, Secretary. 



A paper on "Effects of Commercial Fertilizers in Floyd 

 County " came next, which developed the facts that in many places 

 the application of two hundred pounds per acre on corn, wheat and 

 grass had increased the crop that year double that where none had 

 been used on same kind of soil and preparation for planting, and 

 after cultivation four hundred pounds is necessary for potatoes per 

 acre to produce beneficial results. 



For corn and potatoes it was recommended to be applied in hills 

 at time of planting, or very soon after plants are up. 



At this time President Johnson stated that he was obliged to 

 attend court in the morning. Other members also left to make 

 connection with trains. Vice-President .Jesse C. Stevens took the 

 chair, and the discussion of the "Ornamentation of School Property " 

 was continued by Prof. W. H. Ragan and others. Many members 

 joining in the discussion believed it nearly impracticable to do much 

 in the way of ornamenting public school property until the youth 

 attending our schools have laecome better acquainted with it at home. 



MORNING SESSION, DEC. 9. 



The meeting was called to order at 8:40, Vice-President J. C. 

 'Stevens in the chair. 



After a short discussion Prof. F. M. Webster, of Purdue Uni- 

 versity, read a valuable paper on " Insects of the Year," illustrated 

 with drawings on canvas, and answering many cjuestions. 



Prof. Burrill and some other speakers were kept away by sick- 

 ness. It being the opinion of the President that the session should 

 now close, at 9:15 a. m. the meeting adjourned, to meet at the new 

 State House in Indianapolis one year from date. 



