STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 53 



the aid of his niamiscript. Several other papers could not be j)re- 

 sented for want of time, but will be pul)lished in the Transactions. 



The convention now closed by adjournment. 



In conclusion I luust say that the meeting at Madison was a 

 most enjoyable one, and we may well congratulate our northern sis- 

 ter State for the enterprise, determination and practical good sense 

 of her horticulturists, who made it possible for her to exhibit at New 

 Orleans the finest plate of apples of over 20,000 plates on exhibition, 

 and to receive seven silver medals of the sixteen obtainable ; besides 

 carrying off the largest number of ])remiums and the largest anu)unt 

 in cash of any Nortiiern State. With such a showing, the final tri- 

 umph of Northwestern orchard culture over all difficulties cannot be 

 far distant. 



WEDNESDAY MORNING. 



' . . . ' 



In acceptance of the invitation of Dr. Gillett, the Society pro- 

 ceeded in a body to visit the Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb. The 

 following interesting notes of this visit are taken from the Jackson- 

 ville Journal of December 16th : 



I^right and early yesterday morning Mr. Hay, at the head of our 

 (/itizens' Committee on Reception, called at the Pacific Hotel, head- 

 quarters of the Illinois State Horticultural Society, and escorted them 

 in a body, by street cars in waiting as arranged the night before, on 

 their visit to the State Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, 



Dr. Gillett received them in the chapel, and assigned seats of 

 honor on the platform. By invitation Mr. G. W. Minier read a 

 chapter in the Bible, which was translated by the Doctor in their 

 own peculiar language of signs. At the close of the religious ser- 

 vices, the 577 i)ui)ils jiresent filed out into the various departments 

 with promptness and decorum — the visitors vacating the })latform 

 in favor of the various grades and pupils of all ages, ranging 

 from little girls and boys of five years, under instructions since Oc- 

 tober, uj) to the most advanced young ladies and gentlemen. Their 

 entertainment, under the supervision of Dr. Gillett and his able corps 

 of obliging teachers, was not only novel and highly interesting, but 

 wonderful to most of those present who had never visited an institu- 

 tion of the kind before. The progress some of these ])upils have 

 made is marvelous. 



A young gentleman, perhaps twenty-five years of age, was in- 

 troduced who entertained the audience with descriptions of animals, 

 such as horses, cows and sheep, and his impersonation of the farmer, 

 dude and horticulturist was unmistakable, but his distinction be- 

 tween a carriage and wagon was decidedly original and amusing, but 



