STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. ]^5 



the annual meetings. I think it can be shown that the railway com- 

 panies will make more money by returning members at one-fifth fare 

 than by demanding full fare, as the attendance would be doubled thereby. 

 Some companies do commute fares, though the majority declined to do 

 this year. 



Mr. Flagg — There will be introduced into the Legislature this 

 winter, as there was in the last session — a bill to classify freights, and 

 limit the rates. I think there should be a bill passed to fix the rates — 

 and I hope this Society will go for something of this kind. 



The motion prevailed ; and the President appointed the following 

 gentlemen on the committee: Dr. M. M. Hooton, Centralia; H. C. 

 Graves, Sandwich ; L. K. Scofield, Freeport. On motion, the Society 

 adjourned. 



TUESDAY AFTERNOON. 



Pres. James E. Starr called the meeting to order. 



Reports of Vice Presidents were called for. 



Dr. a. G. Humphrey of Galesburg read the following report : 



REPORT OF THE THIRD HORTICULTURAL DISTRICT. 



^fr. President and Brethren of the Illinois State Horticultural Society. 



The horticultural interest in my district this year has not been great, 

 though by no means entirely wanting. The planting and growing sea- 

 sons have been fair, so that trees, shrubs and plants have made compar- 

 atively a good growth of wood. Flower gardens and lawns have done 

 well. Fruits have not been near as abundant as last year, nor of as 

 good quality. 



Apples in Knox and adjoining counties have been an average 

 crop and of rather inferior quah'ty, most of tlic varieties being somewhat 

 scabbed and decidedly irregular in shape, the Hen Davis being about 

 the only perfectly fair winter apple we have; it is fine in appearance and 

 is exhibiting excellent keeping qualities. If its flavor was equal to its 

 other excellencies it would emphatically be the apple for the million. 



Several terribly wintry days in October felled many of the winter 

 apples to the ground, which had to be carted to the cider press or fed 

 to swine; yet enough remained for our home demand, and prices have 

 ranged from twenty-five to fifty cents jjer bushel. 



\Ve were favored with a crop of peaches this year, the first since 

 1858; but they were not so abundant nor of so good quality as in 1857 

 and 1858. 



Raspberries were nearly a failure on account of the canes being 

 winter-killed, though small plantations, well protected bore a good crop. 



