STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 19 



It la gratifying to know that increasing attention is being given to tree planting generally, in 

 the prairie portions of the State, not only for truit but for shelter belts, and in some instances for 

 timber for mechanical purposes. There is also, as I believe, an increased appreciation of fruit 

 as a cun, in. in and ncccessary article of diet. 



The meetings held by the "Ad Interim Committee," in ditlerent neighborhoods visited, to- 

 gether with the newspaper reports ot its discussions, and examinations, tend to keep these and 

 kindred subjects before the minds ot the people, and will thus, we trust, tend to stimulate and 

 extend all branches of horticultural labor. 



Th.' publishers of the leading newspapers have encouraged and assisted your Committee in 

 Its work by sending intelligent reporters to accompany us upon several ot our excursions, giving 

 extended ami Impartial notices thereof, so much so in feet, as to leave but little for us to report 

 upon. This I regard as one of the most promising indications of success to our enterprise. 



The establishment of a practical horticultural department in our State Industrial University, 

 will doubtless prove an eflieient aid to our Society, in illustrating the various modes of culture, 

 and i" testing the value of varieties of truit, of trees, and plants. Your Committee visited 

 this Institution, and looked over the experimental farm connected with it. Three of our mem- 

 bers being members ot its Board of Trustees, took occasion to consult with other members ot' the 

 Board relative to plans for best promoting the objects for which this department was organized* 



We are gratified In being able to report to you, that at a late meeting of that Board, apian 

 ■was matured and adopted for carrying out an extended system of experiments for te ting the 

 value of a great variety of fruits, also for illustrating the profits of cultivating timber tor use in 

 tin Sfechanic arts. In short, to show the comparative, as well as the real value of all desirable 

 varieties of trees, shrubs and viues, which can be successfully grown, in the State. It is hoped 

 bat the General Assembly of our State will appreciate the great importance of this enterprise, 

 and will promptly appropriate funds to enable the Trustees to prosecute it to advantage. 



The unprecedented heat of the summer — together with the fact thai my colleague in the 

 Northern District, Mr. II. D. Emery, was called from home to investigate the cattle plague — pre- 

 vented us from visiting several places where we had planned to go. 



I have thus presented some general observations and thoughts, without drawing much upon 

 my more definite notes of items. Such of these as your secretary may deem ol value — and are 

 not contained in the report* of other members of your committee — will be furnished him for 

 publication in the next volume of your transactions. 



All of which is respectfully submitted, 



O. B. GAL US HA. 



FIRST DAY — AFTERNOON SESSION. 



The following Essay in the absence of Dr. Crain was presented by 

 President Brown : 



THE APPLE, BY JAS. H. CHAIN, OF MOUND CITY, PULASKI CO. 



The extraordinary i/npetus given to human thought by the freedom and tolerance attained on 

 this continent, bids fair to demonstate that the culture of the apple, which has always kepi pace 

 with civilization, in temperate latitudes, is not necessarily limited by degrees of latitudes or by 

 geological features, but may become almost co-equal, and co-extensive with true civilization. 



That there are more and less favorable soils and subsoils, Is quite true ; but the power of adap- 

 tation in different varieties, under different modes ol working, togel her v. ith the helps of science 

 to supply deficiencies in soil, is rapidly removing this obstacle; while Che Introduction of local 

 seedlings and new stocks is as rapidly mastering the climatic problem, so that ere long this beauti- 

 ful gilt ol a beneficient Croator may be enjoyed everywhere by cultivated people. Though the 



