O TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



the hope that in the feast of pomological reason and flow of entomolog- 

 ical soul that await us, we may in some part repay their many acts of 

 kindness. 



We meet this year, I believe, with our ranks unbroken by death : and, 

 although the common lot of all cannot in the good providence of God be 

 an evil thing, yet we shrink from the mysteries of the silent land and 

 congratulate ourselves that we are still here, living and strong. " Like a 

 timid child, I dread to go out alone into the darkness," wrote a brave 

 man* near the end of a prematurely closed life; and perhaps for the same 

 reason. We have heard old wives' stories of evil things lurking in that 

 darkness. But 



"There is no death; what seems so is transition : 



This life of mortal breath 

 Is but a suburb of the life eljsian 



Whose portals we call death." 



And whilst it is natural and therefore not wrong to dislike separation 

 from relations and friends, and to desire that death shall not come in the 

 midst of life and energy, but in the accepted time of old age and bodily 

 decay; yet I would deprecate the idea which seems a relic of heathenism, 

 that death is the dark conclusion of the day. 



The experience of the year, its hopes, its disappointments, and its 

 fulfillments, you will hear in detail from those who ai'e to follow me. It 

 will be as usual a diverse story of successes in one region and failures in 

 another, as may be expected in the wide range of climate in the State; 

 and I will not undertake to generalize upon topics concerning which 

 there are are many present whose more thorough obervations during the 

 present year enable them to speak with accuiacy and confidence. 



Turning to business matters, I have to report that an examination 

 into our financial condition shows the necessity of a more economical 

 expenditure of our funds. Since the first year after the law granting us 

 an annual appropriation of $2,000 from the State Treasury was passed, 

 our expenses have considerably exceeded that amount annually: but, 

 hitherto, the deficiency has been made up by the large balance remaining 

 the first year and the annual membership fees. We have now reached 

 the point, however, where we must lessen our expenditures, or increase our 

 income. We have further to consider the fact that under the new Con- 

 stitution our appropriation must be bi-ennially renewed. I believe we 

 are entitled to the appropriation for the coming year, but certainly after 

 that period the appropriation must be looked after at each session of the 

 legislature. In reply to a circular issued by the Governor to ofiicers of 

 State Institutions and other beneficiaries of the State, I have asked that 

 the appropriation be increased to $3,000 per annum, so as to enable us 

 to secure scientific investigation of the more occult points in horticultural 

 science. 



Chancellor Hoyt, of Washing^ton University, St. Louis. 



