294 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



and higher place in society. The eight hour law for a day's work — which he regarded 

 as probably unnecessary as a legal measure, he deemed highly necessary in practice, as 

 giving the laboring man more time for study and mental improvement. Eight hours in 

 a day is enough lor labor. The bright spots in his own early life — are those in which 

 the labors and associations of the farm, were rendered pleasant by intellectual and social 

 means — and they are the ones to which he can now look back with ^the only real 

 enjoyment. 



Chittenden — There is, among too many farmers, a lack of attention to reading and 

 literary pursuits. He instanced a neighborhood in the country, where he could find only 

 one newspaper among six families. Such a society as ours is needed in every section of 

 the country. Members should make a point to encourage the organization of such 

 wherever it is possible. 



Brill — Held that too much education was not necessary for a farmer's life ; and that a 

 great deal of mental culture would render hoys dissatisfied with farm life, and drive 

 them from the farm into more intellectual pursuits. Thought the tendency to culture 

 was rather to entice. young men away from the farm. 



The President comhatted that idea. He believed that the more intelligence was diffused 

 among the farming community, as a general thing, the better and more successful farm- 

 ers they would become. Was sorry to see so much apathy among farmers in relation to 

 this matter. Knows men worth S50,OO0 who would not have an agricultural paper in 

 their houses — do not believe in "book farming." 



B. G. Grover — Had been much interested in the discussion, and many things of inter- 

 est had been brought to mind while listening to it. Phrenologically, one person ia 

 qualified to follow one pursuit in life to which another is entirely unsuited. Hence, it is 

 folly to say to my boy — "Stay here and enjoy the pleasures and comforts of this 

 home." If that boy's natural bent was towards other pursuits, however pleasant and 

 attractive that home might be — we must look well to this diversity of character, and 

 endeavor to give each his inclination as far as practicable. Some, to be sure, whose in- 

 clinations are not too strongly turned in another direction, can be influenced to remain 

 at home ; others will go. Much may be done by parents in the way indicated by other 

 speakers to render home happy and pleasant. 



April. — Chittenden reported a fact of some significance, probably on the question of 

 keeping apples — that in cleaning out his cellar lately, he discovered an apple two years 

 old, lying beneath a board partly covered ■with dirt in a dry place, still in a good state of 

 preservation. It was of Schoenmaker variety. 



Mat. — Birds and Insects — W. N. Grover enquired, "Does any member know of a 

 bird that destroys the tent caterpillar?" 



Whitakcr— Has seen a bird — called the Bee Martin — in the act of eating worms out 

 of a nest of these caterpillars. 



President Hammond — Has remarked the almost total absence of the Canker Worm, 

 and would ask if any member can account for this disappearance. 



W. N. Grover — It seems to be a fact that most, if not all, these insect enemies have 

 their periods of appearance and disappearance, from causes which are not well under- 

 stood by entomologists. Instanced the cases of the Army Worm and the 17-year locusts. 



Whitaker — Mentioned the case of the Potato Bug — the Colorado 10-liner. They 

 are emigrating eastward. While they have partially left this region, they are said to be 



