SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 233 



ANNUAL ADDRESS. 



BY PRESIDENT T. J. BURRILL. 



Members and Friends of the Central Illinois Horticultural Society: 



Our Society has liad a nominal existence since 1874; but in real 

 fact, as a living thing — struggli)ig, and crying, and laughing, and 

 crowing — the infant bears date as follows: Hamilton, Illinois, June 

 11th, 1884. It lays claim to royal parentage, the offspring of the 

 renowned Warsaw Horticultural Society on one side, and, through 

 its ever-enterprising President, of the Champaign County Horticul- 

 tural Society on the other side. The east and tbe west of magnifi- 

 cent and munificent Central Hlinois joined their chivalrous forces 

 and begat the vigorous offspring whose second anniversary we to-day 

 da}' join in celebrating. As a one-year-old affair, some of us helped 

 celebrate its birthday at Galesburg, June 28th, 1885. It thus ap- 

 pears the history of our society is easily told. Mr. H. M. Dunlaj), of 

 Champaign county, was its first President, and, notwithstanding the 

 fact that his labors in organizing and preparing for the first meeting 

 were so great that he became prostrate on a bed of sickness at home, 

 thus being most unfortunately unable to attend in body the enthu- 

 siastic gathering at Hamilton, he was present in spirit, and his an- 

 ticipated pleasure in the first meeting was, to some extent, repaid by 

 the encouraging report of the full attendance and fuller interest of 

 this first session. Dr. A. G. Humphrey, of Galesburg, did himself 

 honor as Vice-President and presiding officer. Our present and most 

 efficient Secretary then, as now, was largely instrumental in bring- 

 ing to a successful issue the initial meeting, and if we continue him, 

 as we ought, in the same good work, we may rest in assurance that 

 good work will be done. His accomplished assistant also merits a 

 considerable share in the dressing and putting into presentable order 

 the hopeful infant of which we write. Mr. Hoppe held the bag and 

 counted the coin. Let it be said his counting has been found faith- 

 fully correct, and that he evidently has the ability to do considerably 

 more of the same kind of labor. It is hereby suggested that we test 

 his capacity in this matter considerably further. 



The first meeting was a phenomenal success. The large hall 

 was filled to overflowing with an intelligent and appreciative audi- 

 ence, and the excellent programme was excellently executed; that is, 

 not decapitated, as you might infer, Init effectively, often eloquently, 

 presented. The room was brilliantly adorned with flowers, and an 

 exhibition of the fruits of the season added attractiveness to the 

 occasion. The same board of officers were re-elected, and the tri- 

 umphal session ended. 



