TRANSACTIONS OF GALESBURG HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 307 



and in the raising of cereals were brought, so to speak, face to face. If 

 the apple crop was a failure, if small fruits were not abundant, if cor.i, 

 wheat and other grains yielded poorly, or if a great abundance crowned 

 the efforts of the husbandman, the causes thereof usually were revealed in 

 their reports and discussions. 



The report of the Committee on Horticulture, in its relations to insect 

 depredations, was valuable, and one that should be read by all agricul- 

 turists. The farmer has no greater enemy to his success and prosperity 

 than the insect tribe. In the United States millions of property every 

 year are destroyed by this countless army. In some States and districts 

 almost every living thing of the vegetable kind is destroyed. The grass- 

 hopper pest of Kansas comes like the besom of destruction, and the 

 hopes of the husbandman are blasted and gone. Surrounded with this 

 innumerable army of enemies, the life of the farmer becomes a struggle 

 for existence. Among the insect tribe, then, it behooves us to know our 

 enemies and our friends — our enemies, that we may guard against them ; 

 our friends, that we may make use of their friendship. 



I cannot speak in too high terms of praise of the report of the Com- 

 mittee on Ornithology, by Prof Forbes. Prof Forbes has entered upon 

 a work of paramount interest and profit to the practical horticulturist. 

 His work is the analysis of the contents of the crops of the different 

 kinds of birds, in order to ascertain whether they are beneficial or inju- 

 rious to the husbandman. This labor is not confined to a single bird 

 for a single day, but it extends through the summer months. A scale of 

 marking is adopted similar to one used in our schools and colleges. The 

 scale ranges from o to loo. On examination of the crops of birds, if 

 nothing but injurious insects is found, the bird's standing is loo; if noth- 

 ing but fruits, the bird has a discredit indicated by zero. I might add 

 here that the work of Prof Forbes is not the work of a day or a year. 

 He proposes to extend it through a series of years, in order to obtain 

 certain and definite results. To that end, he has, at present, preserved 

 in alcohol, thousands of birds' crops, waiting for examination. These 

 have been sent him from different parts of our State by friends interested 

 in the work. 



The Committee on Geology submitted an interesting and instructive 

 report, through Prof Worthen. The geology of our State must always 

 be worthy of the attention of the tillers of the soil, because it is more or 

 less connected with the art of husbandry. The kinds and position of the 

 different strata have much to do with the matter of drainage, or the 

 power of the soil to withstand drouth. In this paper, Prof Worthen 

 has proved himself a master. He is truly deserving the support and confi- 

 dence of the people of the State. 



One thing especially was to be noticed with regret — the failure of 

 those whose names appeared upon the programme to iierform the part 

 assigned them. Those who are given any public position, and who have 

 accepted that position, should not disappoint the people by their indiffer- 

 ence or non-attendance. There is no doubt, however, that many were 

 kept away by circumstances over which they had no control. But it is 



