124 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



Mr. Isaac Baldwin was certainly not the property of the people 

 of Morgan County alone, with whose interests he was so closely iden- 

 tified. He was truly the father of small fruit culture in this county. 

 He was the first man to offer cultivated strawberries for sale in our 

 markets, and although his first offering consisted of only ten quarts 

 of berries in a common wooden water-bucket, and which, after a 

 half day of active effort, he carried mostly back to his home, he lived 

 to market 5,000 boxes of fruit per day, and still the demand was 

 not satisfied. To his earnest effort in the direction of dissemination 

 of valuable fruits are you indebted for the Turner Seedling rasp- 

 berry, which, too, undoubtedly resulted in putting more honest profit 

 in the pockets of the fruit-growers of the Northwest than any other 

 berry ever produced. His honesty and integrity of character was 

 never questioned by any who knew him. As husband and father he 

 was kind and careful to a degree unknown to any one not intimately 

 acquainted with him. His quiet and unostentatious liberality made 

 him a friend to every one in trouble. In fact, too much cannot be 

 said of his valuable influence in the development of the horticultural 

 interest of his adopted county. 



A. L. Hay, 

 C. N. Dennis, 



T. E, GOODEICH, 



Comynittee. 



The President now introduced Mrs. W. C. Hooker, who read 

 the following paper on 



THE SIGNIFICANCE OF FLOWERS. 

 BY MRS. W, C. HOOKER. 



Nature surrounds us with beautiful objects, but its highest mani- 

 festations of beauty are the fragile flowers. These, in their appointed 

 time, spangle the earth with varied forms and colors which afford 

 delight. Rosy spring and the bright months of summer attend 

 them. They come with sunshine, balmy breeze and the songs of 

 birds, bringing joy and gladness; each recurring season unfolding 

 their delicate petals to the pearly dews and golden light. They 

 laden the air with sweet perfume, attain rich perfection of hue and 

 symmetry, then gently droop to their wintry rest. 



Every country and climate has its flora, from the frozen zones 

 to the sunny tropics; from rocky peaks of mountains, where rest 

 eternal snows, to sheltered, sun-kissed valleys. They are of endless 

 variety, from the stately magnolia and matchless fuschia, that bloom 

 under the southern cross, to the modest violet, delicate primrose 

 and spotless snowdrop, heralds of spring in northern climes. 

 Arrayed in beauty surpassing human art, they greet us on every 



