STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 147 



One point further and I will close. It seems to be generally agreed by those who have 

 Investigated the snbjeet, that a belt of trees interposed between the malarial source and 

 object, will greatly diminish its power. Lieut. Maury and his Sunflowers I have already 

 mentioned. If this be so, has not every one within his grasp a most potent preventive? 

 It is worth investigating to see whether trees planted between the homestead and a pond 

 of water, a swamp or stream polluted by drainage, or any source of malaria, have the 

 effect claimed. 



Thus we have seen that man is not a passive recipient, to be worked and molded by 

 even the mighty spirits of the air, like dead matter; but that, as an active agent, he 

 changes nature, as well as is changed by it, and grasps even at the treasures of the rain 

 and of the snow, and makes them subserve his will. 



A vote of thanks was tendered to Prof. Baker. 



HORTICULTURE IN INDUSTRIAL UNIVERSITY. 



Mr. Cochran oifered the following resolution : 



Whereas, The Board of Trustees of the Illinois State Industrial University did at its 

 late meeting, digest and adopt a plan for a system of experiments in Horticulture, calcu- 

 lated to elicit and establish facts of incalculable value to the whole state, and did decide 

 by vote to ask of the next general assembly of this state an appropriation of the sum of 

 twenty-two thousand dollars ($22,000) to enable them to carry out said plan ; therefore, 



Hesolved, That this Society does most earnestly pray the general assembly to make 

 6uch appropriation. 



Jlexolved, That our Corresponding Secretary be and he hereby is appointed a com- 

 mittee to lay the above preamble and resolution before the general assembly. 



Dr. Gregory, Regent of the University, being called upon made 

 some remarks upon the general subject. lie asked the forbearance 

 and kind judgment of the society in regard to the University. A 

 suspicion might ruin a college. It was a question of interest that 

 would survive us all, and we owed it to posterity that the institution 

 should have a fair show. The fate of many State Universities 

 should warn us. Fifteen years ago we pronounced them all necessa- 

 rily a failure. Michigan, Wisconsin and other Universities had 

 failed. The reason of failure was the ill-advised, uncanny nursing 

 of the child. All should understand that this is a serious business ; 

 success hangs on a slender thread. The chances are narrow, as to 

 whether we shall have a long failure or an early success. 



It was not a question of personal success, and he would feel it his 



