290 8TATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETT. 



that lie does to other crops. If the trees grow and do well, he is thankful, but 

 if they do not, he docs not put himself to any trouble about it, but allows the 

 fact to conform with an idea he has always entertained, that fruit don't pay 

 anyhow. As to pears and the choicer small fruits and berries, scarcely one in 

 ten of our farmers ever make even an attempt at cultivating tliem. If all our 

 farmers raised as much fruit as they should and of as fine varieties as they 

 might, the surplus that would be sold would add many hundreds of thousands 

 of dollars to our wealth every year, and would increase the health and happi- 

 ness of the people in an untold degree. Our State Horticultural Society is 

 laborins: towards this most desirable consummation. Its members are not a 

 set of jealous fellows -who want to keep all the information in regard to the 

 best fruits and best means of cultivating them to themselves, for their own 

 advantage. The doors of their meetings are open to all comers, and all are 

 welcome to take part in the discussions and learn all they desire. Slowly and 

 surely the influence from these enthusiastic but practical men is extending 

 among the people, and more and better orchards and fruit gardens are being 

 planted as a result of their annual conferences. They deserve the encourage- 

 ment and thanks of all good citizens for their persistent efforts to foster and 

 advance the noble and valued art of horticulture. 



10. Our society suffered quite largely in a falling off of membership during 

 the recent financial troubles through which our country has passed, though 

 very perceptibly recuperating therefrom at this time. One of our greatest 

 sources of regret and of apprehension is due to the great absence of interest 

 upon the part of young men and ladies. We feel, however, that in adopting 

 the present migratory system of holding our meetings at different points in 

 the State, that we are on the high way to overcome this difficulty, as the ladies 

 are already manifesting much interest in our meetings (not a few are regular 

 attendants, and some are good working members), and where they go the 

 young men are sure to follow. 



Very respectfully, AV. H. RAGAIS', 



Secretary Indiana Horticultural Society, 



ILLINOIS STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



A brief letter from Secretary 0. B. Galusha, with a volume of Transactions 

 which accompanied it, is the source of the following information concerning 

 the Illinois society : 



The State is divided into three districts, Northern, Central, and Southern, 

 and each district has its local society, and furnislies two members for the 

 Executive Board which governs the State society. The remaining members 

 of this Board are the President and Secretary. 



The State is also divided into seven districts, two of wliich belong to the 

 Northern society, two to the Central, and three to the Southern. Each dis- 

 trict furnishes one member to a General Committee on Horticulture. 



Aside from this committee, there are seventeen standing committees on 

 yarious departments of work, including, aside from the various divisions of 

 Horticulture, Entomology, Ornitholgy, 13otany and Meteorology. 



