4 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



President Dennis made a brief but appropriate response to these 

 words of welcome, after which he introduced^ Hon. H. W. Lathrop, 

 an accredited delegate from the Iowa State Horticultural Society. 



Mr. Lathrop — It gives me great pleasure to meet with you to- 

 day. Before I came I supposed you did not need iron clads as badly 

 as we do, but I find that some portions of your state are in about the 

 same condition as Iowa. You, like the Jews of old, can go down 

 into Egypt for fruit when the "Frost King" lays his icy hand upon 

 your trees, but we have no Egypt to depend upon, and must there- 

 fore find varieties that will endure our fiercest cold. 



Mr. Charles Patterson, of Kirksville, Mo., was now introduced 

 and responded as follows: 



' Mr. Patterson — I am an exceedingly modest man and am sorry 

 to be brought into such prominence, and will only occupy a few 

 minutes of your valuable time. I am located in Northern Missouri 

 and have the same losses that you have. We are engaged in the 

 same work, seeking the same ends, and I expect to gain much profit 

 from this meeting. 



On motion of Mr. Gaston these gentlemen were made honorary 

 members of the Society. 



Mr. J. Ct. Vaughan now presented the following report on 



OECHARD CULTURE. 



BY .J. G. YAUGHAN. 



In view of the almost total destruction of orchards in a large 

 portion of our state, and the serious injury to many more not totally 

 destroyed. I felt keenly the unpleasant, if not absurd, position I was 

 placed in by your appointment, having had neither special training 

 nor experience to qualify me for the task assigned. 



For the purpose of eliciting discussion, permit me to call your 

 attention for a few moments to one branch only, which lies at the 

 very foundation of this subject, that appears to have been neglected 

 — and one I regard of vastly more importance to us just now than 

 whether this or that is the better location for an orchard — whether 

 deep or shallow planting, clean culture or sod, high heads or low 

 heads, the merits of different varieties, etc., etc. — questions that 

 have so often been discussed heretofore that to attemj)t to say more 

 would appear to be only " vain rejietitions." 



