234 TKANSACTIONS OF THE HOKTICULTURAL 



The second meeting, at Galesburg, was less encouraging, owing 

 to a combination of causes which need not be here detailed. The 

 citizens of the place were busily engaged at the time in a great in- 

 augural demonstration attending the laying of the corner-stone of 

 their new court-house, and those specially inclined horticulture-ward 

 were buried in berries. None present, however, can ever forget the 

 interest and pleasure of the visit to the delightful home grounds of 

 Professor and Mrs. Standish, put along with their presence and 

 helpful participation in our exercises. The baker's dozen constitut- 

 ing the audience made up in great measure for numbers by their 

 hopeful interest and enthusiasm, and our bantling of a society was 

 able to crow cheerily over the results. The Warsaw Horticultural 

 Society good-naturedly put in a second invitation for Hamilton, and 

 after considerable discussion the responsible advisers of our pre- 

 cocious, but struggling organization, decided to accept the proposition. 



To-day, under these propitious skies, in this good place of its 

 nativity, among these good friends and patrons of its birthday 

 honors, our young, but hopeful, society meets to celebrate its second 

 anniversary, and to gain new vitality and richer blood for the ex- 

 igencies and trials of another lease of life. We have abundant 

 reasons for hope in this direction. The very air upon these hills and 

 valleys is instinct with horticultural vitality; the inspiring enthu- 

 siasm of the friends who are wont to gather in this hall is bound to 

 enkindle new fires, and to fan slumbering embers into new and 

 brighter flames. These beautiful flowers, made more beautiful by 

 loving and taste-guided hands, the welcome in words and in the 

 louder, more expressive benedictions of deeds, are sure to have 

 powerful influences for good in the future of our organization, and 

 must aid in helping other local societies in our fertile district to a 

 vital and useful existence. 



During the year now terminating we have been bountifully 

 blessed with rich harvests and the material requisites of peaceful and 

 happy lives. The regular return and following of the seasons have 

 brought with them each the benedictions and blessings of a generous 

 and loving Father, the giver of all good gifts to man. We offer 

 here and now our grateful homage for the kind providence that has 

 overshadowed us, for the protection that has been constantly round 

 about us, and for the privileges and prospects we enjoy. No calam- 

 ity has befallen our portion of the country. Business interests have 

 been encouraging, and our own professional pursuits have been 

 favored and enjoyed. The financial returns for the special products 

 of our art have not been large. 



It may be confidently asserted that none of us have been unduly 

 sacrificed upon the shrine of mammon through the too inordinate 

 collections of cash. If any of you are in danger of backsliding from 

 the faith, on account of the increasing corruptions of wealth, it has 

 not yet reached the ear of your reporter. But when prices are low 



