ILl.TNOIS IfORTICni.TriRAl. ^^OCIETV. ^49 



Mr. H. II. McAfee oftercd the following resoliilion wliich was unani- 

 mously adopted : 



Resolved that the Northern Illinois Horticultural Society.believing that the interests 

 of Agriculture and Horticulture deserve every assistance and encouragement from the 

 governing power, and recognizing the immense value to general science, as well a-i the 

 valuable assistance rendered to the productive interests of the investigations of the 

 European e.xperiment stations, (Versuchs Stalionen), we eaincstly ask the Legislature of 

 Illinois to consider the propriety of establishing three or more experiment stations in 

 different part-, of the State to be devoted to investigations in scientific subjects connected 

 with Agriculune and Horticulture, (and to be connected with the Illinois Industrial Uni- 

 versity.) 



Mr. S. Edwards offered the following Resolution which was adopted 

 unanimously. 



•' Resolved that we deem it highly desirable that tHe number of Students of the 

 Industrial University be limited to out from each Congressional District and that they 

 be elected by the people." 



Adjourned to 7, P. M. 



EVENING SESSION. 



Mk. Jonathan Periam addressed the meerinj on the subject of 

 growing Vegetables, which was discussed by Messrs. (ialusha, Hill, and 

 others. 



Mr. H. H. McAfee read an essay on Vegetable Physiology as fol- 

 lows, which led to a general discussion as to wha: are species and what 



varieties. 



VEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY. 



All facts concerning growth: the action of various organs; the ger- 

 Tnination of seed ; root absorption ; leaf absorption ; elaboration, change 

 and use in the vegetable structure of organized matter; the rejjroductive 

 function and embryonic growth of the young plant ; and finally, the 

 processes and products of the decay of plants are embraced within the 

 province of Vegetable Physiology. 



In fewer words, it is the consideration of every process in the life 

 or deat>i of the plant, as well as the causes and results of those pro- 

 cesses. 



The magnitude of the subject is as great as the many interests which 

 connect man and the other animals with the vegetable world. 



As vegetation stands between animal life and inorganic matter, the 

 connecting link, capable of taking such inorganic matter and buil.iing it up 

 into new chemical combinations, suitable for the nutrition of animals, we 

 see that the physiology of the plant is the very basis upon which rises 

 the whole fabric of animal existence. The plants devour the earth, the 

 very rocks, and the gases of the air, and organize them into forms which 

 serve for the food of animals, which in turn become food for other ani- 

 mals, indefinitely. 



