238 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



ness can never stand a comparison with the henefits that might be derived 

 from a Normal School where these branches are taught. We have here 

 a larger attendance of students than ever. Tiie six weeks before Christ- 

 mas we spent in some lessons on arboriculture, and I hardly know who 

 was most interested, the teacher or the large class of young men. I 

 felt mvself tenipteil to teach more practical lessons, by starting a fine 

 forest somewhci\.- in Iowa.* 



Now we commence the raising of fruit trees. I like this branch, on 

 account of the interest taken in it by the students, and its great usefulness; 

 but what is this small beginning, compared to our great want.?" 



May such schools, antl such teachers, increase and multiply. Let 

 our young men learn that the Creator makes no mistakes. When 

 he placed man in the country, it was for his best good and highest hap- 

 piness, here and hereafter. 



Yours tioily, 



Samuel Edwards. 



A VOICE FROM TAZEWELL COUNTY. 



The history of the fruits and plants cultivated, of the trees artificially 

 planted, trained, and enjoyed in the diflerent counties of our State, w^ould 

 form a very interesting item of our yeai'ly Transactions; it would also 

 form a volume of very large dimensions, and entirely too voluminous 

 for practical purposes. If eveiy pioneer of the divine art of Horticul- 

 ture w^ere mentioned as he should be, it would occupy too much space; 

 and if all the congregation of worshipers at the shrine of Pomona were 

 catalogued, we could hardly find time to speak to them, or shake hands 

 with the immense crowd. This is a sort of natural religion. One that 

 children have never got to be converted to. It is taken the natural way. 

 In this religion of agriculture there is no total hereditary depravity. 

 Every child born into this natural world is a lover of flowers; a lover of 

 fruits; an admirer of trees and natural out-of-door's scenery. Hence it 

 is urged that there is no hereditary total depravity in the religion we 

 preach in this hall, on this ground, and among these brethren. But as 

 childhood vanishes into maturer years, our miserable systems of educa- 

 tion come along and bring in a sort of depravity, and in some it becomes 

 total depravity, from which we have to convert men and women, but not 

 children. Having now stated the two prime articles of our creed, viz.: 

 Every body has this religion naturally, and by a sort of unnatural educa- 

 tion almost eveiy man and wouian become depraved, and some totally 

 depraved — it is proposed to say something of the progress of this refor- 

 mation in Tazewell county, Illinois. This county is bounded on the 

 upper side by the zenith, and on the nether side by the nadir. So if it 

 is not very broad it is both high and deep. It has a soil well adapted to 

 trees, plants, fruits, and flowers. Many of the citizens are availing them- 

 selves of these natiu'al advantages. 



*Qj;ery by tub Editor.— Why not upon tlie large prairies of our own State: 



