SOCIETY OF NOKTHERN ILLINOIS. 333 



was no individual ownership in lands, which were regarded, like air 

 and sunshine, as the property of all. Even to the present day we 

 find, to some extent, the same course prevailing in new countries in 

 advance of permanent settlement. This mode of living forbids the 

 construction of comfortable dwellings and the cultivation of the 

 land; the spontaneous productions of the eartli, often scarce and 

 poor in quality; the milk and flesh of their herds, with occasional 

 supplies of game, comprised their living. 



but time moves onward. We look again on this country, and 

 find agriculture engaging the attention of its people; a higher civili- 

 zation is evident, and we see progress everywhere — in the construc- 

 tion of dwellings, the laying out of roads, the felling of forests or 

 breaking of prairies; land has become individual property, and in 

 their new vocabulary the people have use for the word "home." 



Again, after an interval of years, we revisit the country, and 

 what do we see? Orchards dotting the landscape and bearing their 

 their wealth of blushing fruit; we see all the small fruits flourish- 

 ing, and the gardens filled with choice vegetables; we see beauties of 

 Flora's kingdom more exquisite and lovely than any pencil can 

 paint. We see comfortable dwellings embowered in sylvan retreats, 

 and entwined with vines and flowers; we see deciduous and evergreen 

 trees, which break the force of the Arctic waves of winter and the 

 storms of summer; we hear the melody of birds in their matin songs 

 of gladness, and see their nests on the swinging branches, while the 

 busy bees increase their stores of sweets by gathering nectar from 

 countless flowers, and the cattle gladly accept the shade provided for 

 them from midsummer noonday sun. We ask what has produced 

 this change, this wonderful change, and the answer, "horticulture." 

 conies from thousands of happy homes. Yes, the word "home," un- 

 known to the wandering savage, now amid trees, vines, fruits and 

 flowers, justly requires a descriptive adjective before it, and, quoting 

 the words of John Howard Payne, we can truthfully say, " Home, 

 sweet home." 



When we think of the children of such happy homes; when 

 ideas of the good and the beautiful are formed at a time when the 

 " mind is wax to receive and marble to retain impressions made," we 

 know the effect is good, and good only. A man who plants trees, 

 vines and small fruits, plants himself as it were. He is anchored to 

 a spot of earth which he improves and beautifies. His fields do not 

 require to be as large as those of the grain grower or stock farmer. 

 In comparison with exclusively agricultural sections, horticultural dis- 

 tricts are more densely populated. The larger number to bear the 

 burdens of taxation gives opportunities for better highways, improved 

 schools and more churches. Thus the effects of horticulture are 

 greater social enjoyments, more physical comforts, a higher educa- 

 tion and the increase of morality and Godliness. 



Viewed from a business stand point, horticulture forms one of 



