SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 271 



habits of l)oth. Tliey should be tauf^ht to observe and note results 

 far more closely than we have been in the hal)it of doing. Indeed, 

 schools for the study of science should be multiplied, or better, per- 

 haps, the study introduced into all our common schools. Thus, by 

 persistent and patient effort, we may — or future generations may 

 (for such a result can scarcely be expected in our day) — be able to 

 cope with these myriad enemies of the luunan race. For myself, T 

 give up the contest, deeply chagrined at being compelled to acknowl- 

 edge myself beaten in the struggle. But for the remainder of 

 life, will endeavor to accept and be thankful for what these tribes 

 leave me. 



And now, in conclusion, passing from a consideration of insect 

 life to a loftier and far different theme, my thoughts revert to those 

 early pioneers in horticulture who began the work in Illinois you are 

 now so zealously pushing forward. I am an old enough citizen of the 

 State to have seen and read the first issue of the first agricultural and 

 horticultural journal west of the lakes, and I think west of the Ohio 

 river. That was about forty-five years ago, when .lohn S. Wright 

 and .]. Ambrose Wright began the publication of a paper at Chicago, 

 the title of which I can not just now recall, but it was the predeces- 

 sor of and merged into the Prairie Farmer. Those two tireless work- 

 ers soon drew around them a score or more of writers and co-lal>or- 

 ers, many, I may say, most of whom have since gone to their reward, 

 but whose names have become household words in all our prairie 

 homes. Who of us does not remember and hold in reverence the 

 names of Dr. Kennicott and Dr. Hull, and John A. Warder, and Ed- 

 son Harkness, and the Overmans, and Smiley Shepherd; the vener- 

 able Arthur Bryant and the ever-active M. L. Dunlap (both of whom 

 have reju-esentatives here to-day), and that genial and indefatigable 

 worker, Willard C. Flagg. These men, with many others I might 

 name, some of them still among us, contributed largely to the devel- 

 opment of this great State, and in transforming its trackless prairies 

 into beautiful homes for three millions of people. We do not, per- 

 haps, realize how much we owe to these pioneers. Their resting 

 places, too, deserve to be decorated with the flowers they so faith- 

 fully taught us how to rear and care for, and which they loved so 

 well. " Bring flowers! bring flowers! " to the graves of these hon- 

 ored pioneers of horticulture! 



Mr. Leeper — Mr. Gregg's essay is somewhat discouraging, yet I 

 see some hopeful indications. Our young orchard trees are doing 

 well, and those who persevere will finally obtain the reward. Insects 

 and diseases are ever present with us, ami we must watch and wait. 

 It requires much care to grow an orchard in these latter days, but it 

 can be done. I have been greatly benefitted by attending the meet- 



