STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 47 



moments ; then the wind will break furiously from some point west, and 

 the barometer will commence rising. In proportion to the rapidity that 

 it rises, will be the force of the wind that concludes the phenomenon. 



I have now passed under review a small section of the vast domain 

 of Nature. I have tried to treat it in as popular a form as possible, and 

 hope I have succeeded in making myself understood. It is a difficult task 

 to popularize physical science, because with truth it must be said, that 

 physical science in its highest sense is not yet born, but will be the child 

 of the future. We have wild theories that we call science, which the more 

 a man studies the less he knows, because they have no foundation in solid 

 facts. But physical science of the future will be absolute truths de- 

 duced and demonstrated from actual facts; and the whole logically ar- 

 raned into a system. The first step toward constructing it, will be a 

 thorough investigation of the phenomena, laws and modes of the Phys- 

 ical Forces, namely. Light, Heat, Electricity and Magnetism, their cor- 

 relation, equivalence, mutual convertibility, and persistence in some form 

 of Force. They constitute the motive power of the universe and pro- 

 duce all its phenomena. Phenomena are only the behavior of matter 

 when affected by these invisible, imponderable, and intangible forces. 

 This is the great lesson yet to learn. Man is intended as the interpreter 

 of Nature, and he has ample ability bestowed upon him to do it. Nature 

 is also a ])atient and persistent teacher, obtruding her lessons on all oc- 

 casions, at all seasons, and in all ages upon the attention of the people. 

 Her authority to teach is enforced by severe penalties on her obstinate, 

 refractory, and intractable pupils, for Man is under a 7iecessity that he must 

 learn. The people now as in prior ages " perish for want of knowledge ;" 

 and will continue to perish until Man has mastered the interpretation of 

 Nature, and in his life and conduct follows her infallible precepts, 



The other members of the committee — Profs. Wernli of Galena and 

 Baker of ('hanipaign, were not present, and sent in no reports. 



A letter from Professor Baker, stated that he was prevented frorn 

 making out his report, by a serious illness. 



The President then read his annual address, as announced in the 

 printed programme. 



PRESIDENT'S ANNUAL ADDRESS. 



Ladies and Gentlemen : 



It will be admitted that the immense area of Illinois embraces lands 

 adapted to all the varied pursuits of Agriculture and Horticulture. All 

 lands are not alike; differences of soil, location and ex[)osure exist on al- 

 most all farms ; climatic differences also exist ; the growth of spring wheat 

 is a success on the north part of the State, while it is a failure in the 

 south, where the fall sown or winter wheat takes its place. The rich 

 prairie and alluvial bottoms are ff)und best adapted to corn, while the 

 broken, hilly lands produce the finest wheat. Orchards abound in al- 



