REPORTS OF AUXILIARY SOCIETIES. 323 



COLON FLORAL AND ART ASSOCIATION. 



The officers for 18S0 are as follows : 



President — Mrs. J. H. Clement. 



Vice Presidents— -Mrs. A. R. Hill, Mrs. E. Sides. 



Secretary — Mrs. A. M. Banta. 



Treasurer — Mrs. W. G. Davis. 



Directors — Mrs. E. J. Schermerhorn, Mrs. Permelia Hill, Misses Maggie 

 and Frank Farrand. 



On September 11th, 1877, a few ladies and gentlemen interested in the cul- 

 ture of flowers and house-plants convened in Colon, at the residence of Dr. 

 Isaac Sides, to discuss the subject of organizing a society for the purpose of 

 holding a floral exhibit. The result was the formation of a society with Mrs. 



A. M. Banta, President; Mrs. E. Sides, Mrs. H. Miller, Vice Presidents; Miss 

 M. S. Farrand, Secretary; Miss Frank Farrand, Treasurer; and an executive 

 committee consisting of Mr. and Mrs. Dr. I. Sides, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Cle- 

 ment, Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Davis, Mrs. E. J. Schermerhorn, Mrs. M. E. 

 Rogers, Mr. and Mrs. J. Skinner, Mrs. Katie Miller, Mr. J. Farrand and W. 



B. Akey. 



Success crowned our efforts, for " where there is a will there is a way," and 

 on the 18th of September, one week from our first meeting, the floral fair was 

 opened with a fine display of 500 pots of specimen plants, together with a great 

 variety of hanging baskets, quite a number of floral designs, and an indefinite 

 number of vases of cut flowers, interspersed with fancy work and paintings. 



Our fair passed off admirably, not only as a pleasant entertainment, but also 

 in a financial sense, so that at the close of it, the faithless (for there were many 

 such), were obliged to be believing, and those who discouraged our undertaking 

 at first were compelled to consider it a success. 



At the second official meeting, elated with our achievement and with bright 

 hopes for the future, the members of the association concluded to make the 

 floral society a permanent organization, having for its object the awakening of 

 a greater interest in the fine arts and the study and culture of flowers, which 

 tends to elevate the thoughts and brings the mind in constant communion with 

 nature, and brings out a beauty and refinement of taste which are never out of 

 place. It was decided to retain the same officers, and to have a constitution 

 and by-laws drawn up for the government of the association. The name Colon 

 Floral and Art Association was also adopted. This year witnessed our fourth 

 annual exhibit, with Mr. J. H. Clement, President. An increased interest is 

 very perceptible every year both by members and others. The Colon Pomolog- 

 ical Society united with us this fall in the exhibit, which greatly enhanced the 

 pleasure of the entertainment. A proposition has been made recently by some 

 of the members to unite both and become a branch of the State Horticultural 

 Society, which we hope may be accomplished, as in union there is strength; 

 but in so doing not to yield our individual character as a society. 



