1862. 



THE ILLINOIS FARMER 



15 



marks, though rather caustic on the members of 

 the Legislature, who promised, but did nothing 

 for the Society. We can give but a few para- 

 graph : 



" And, as this may be my last Ipcture, I know 

 you will listen patiently — to gather the meaning 

 of what I shall say. Though nominally my in- 

 augural, 1 intend it fo'* a parting legacy, to all 

 the brotherhood of productive Labor. 



"No one will consider this presiiniption in a 

 President of the State Horticultural Society — 

 one who has practiced horticulture for half a 

 century, and has had the honor — as a delegate 

 of Illinois — to succeed the " Father of Amkri- 

 CEN Rural Science " — in the chair of the first 

 "North American Pomological Convention; and 

 once before now, presided over the largest 

 mepting of Pomologis^ts the West ever saw — in 



this very cify of Chicago." 



****** 



" Being prevented by illness from attending 

 the last winter session of our State Legislature, 

 I employed an agent, without pay, and wrote, or 

 caused to be written, numerous letters to such 

 Senators and Representatives as I happened to 

 to know or whose antecedents and "professions" 

 of regard for public interests, seemed to point 

 out, as the proper men to advocate our modest 

 demands on the State Treasury. And we asked, 

 first, a " special charter," like that of our State 

 Agricultural Society. And last, an appropria- 

 tion of $500 to $1,000 to, enable us to gather 

 mafeiials at thismeetirff, and print and distribute, 

 free, a reliable guide, for the farmer and lot 

 holder, in all its branches of Northwestern Hor- 

 tituliure Much needed practical inlormalion, 

 to be found in no one book, in existence." * * 

 * * " But the ' servants of the people ' had 

 too much to do for themselves, to think about so 

 smnll a matter as Horticultural improvement! 

 Wild catting, and city chartering, and other such 

 " statesmanlike " objects, were of far greater 

 account, and more likely to pay (for legislation) 

 in "dollars" down, and more doZZar* hereafter. 



" So, you see, all I could get for you, was this 

 unauthorized draft on the good will of a kindred 

 association. Something like a gratuity, out of 

 another man's pocket — but more like an offer of 

 pardon to a culprit — after he had been " hanged 

 by the neck till dead ! " 



"You can well imagine that this 'took all 

 the conceit out of " your confident president — 

 though it did not in the least diminish his confi- 

 dence in either the ' honesty or liberality ' of 

 politicians — whether 'Republicans' or 'Demo- 

 crat.' Though, contrasted with the modicum of 

 true manhood, and straightforward 'honest' 

 rascality, always evinced by many of the old 

 'close fisted "democracy.' I did think, that, 

 perhaps, the people of Illinois, (and also of the 

 United States) might have done well to remem- 

 ber the fable — of the fox and swallow — touching 

 a certain ' swarm of flies.' 



"Wei, gentleman, as a society, we are no 

 worse oflT than before, and we can put our hands 

 into our own pockets to print our own proceed- 

 ings, and give the book away just as easy as 

 heretofore. * * * ^ 



And now, for my parting advice to you, and 

 the whole brotherhood of rural Hud mechanical 

 labor. Since the first politician beguiled the 

 first " gardener" the cunning tongues of his 

 prcgeny, and the strong wil s of despots, have 

 ever been too powerful for the sons of honest labor 

 — ' the bone and sinew," as we at e conveution- 

 ally termed — just before every election. For, 

 when the lion's skin has proved too short, it iias 

 always been eked out witti the fox's hide. And 

 we who saw the cheat have still submitted, for 

 sake of peace and quiet, and becsuse we knew 

 that, of every twenty farmers, nineteen would 

 be humbugged, say what we might. 



"It has been said that 'the pen is mightier 

 than the sword.' I question not the adage, but 

 mightier than every other instrument is the 

 tongue, in this free country. Words, deftly 

 spoken, whether true or false, are the engines 

 that move the masses. We are but animated 

 puppets — our votes are bought and sold in the 

 political market — with advantage to both buyer 

 and seller, ; but we get only words in payn ent." 

 * * * * it ]ji tfjg meantime, let our peace- 

 ful pursuits go on. The beautiful whicti we 

 create will be " a joy forever," whether we live 

 long to enjoy it or soon leave the growing legacy 

 to our children, and generations to follow them. 

 Our natural mission is one of unmixed benifi- 

 cence. By the help of the law of nature, and 

 and the rules of rural taste, we are painting 

 living landscapes, and dotting the bald prairie 

 with perennial verdure — strewing here and there, 

 as we go, such timely supplit-s of the cooling 

 and luscious products of moder pomology, as 

 the earlier worshippers of the fruity goddess 

 never dreamed ont of Eden ! And s'^or — very 

 soon — we may hope to present the >hin blooded 

 invalid and slow pulsed patrirtr:h witu t-uch a 

 "cup' as migtit have raised 1 acchus above Ju- 

 piter, and will do more for temperance and jolli- 

 ty than all the sermons on the sin ot drunken- 

 ness, and all the impossible provisions of tiuman 

 law ever ut'ered or enacted on this side of time. 



"And now, let's all to the practical work be- 

 fore us. My last " inaugntal " and anticipated 

 " valedictory " are ended together." 



The fruit day was mainly spent in prelimina- 

 ries, the addresses above and the reading of 

 letters. In the evening, the small fruits came 

 in for a share of the talk. 



The second day the active duties of the meet- 

 ing were more apparent. 



AMATUER LIST OF WINTER APPLES 



Was the first taken up. Westfield Seek-no-fnr- 

 ther wan the first in order. Mr. Willey, of Wis- 

 consin, spoke highly of it for his State, and was 

 followed by one or two others, but the larger 

 number considered it a poor bearer — passed. 

 White Winter Fearmain was considered too ten- 

 der for Northern Illinois. Herfordshire Pear- 

 main fruit was first rate when you get it. Eng- 

 lish Golden Russet — varions opinions of its 

 value — passed. 



