Annual Meeting — Report of Secretary. 95 



would lose its fascination and power to harm, if properly set forth in 

 the press of the locality, where he is carrying on his still hunt. 



Some of our local societies are actively engaged in local work; 

 others keep up their organization, but are losing their interest, 

 and there are many places where with little aid societies could 

 be formed and maintained with good results. While, as remarked 

 before, it may be regarded as the duty of this society to do this 

 work, it is not to be expected that our members will engage in it, 

 certainly not to the extent it ought to be done, without remunera- 

 tion. If the society had funds at its disposal, they could in no 

 way be made more efficiently to contribute to the public good, 

 than by using them to defray the necessary expenses of those en- 

 gaged in such labor. 



It is thought by some that the situation warrants the society in 

 asking of the state the means necessary to carry on this work more 

 efficiently and more thoroughly. Since its organization, this soci- 

 ety has not drawn a dollar from the public treasury, except for 

 the publication of its report. While in other states near us, the 

 horticultural societies, with fewer difficulties to contend with and 

 greater home resources to aid them, have asked and receive yearly 

 appropriations, you have asked nothing; kept on doing the work, 

 giving the necessary time and footing the bills. We can continue 

 to do so still. By insisting on a return to the former practice in 

 our arrangement with the Agricultural Society, that we are to re- 

 ceive the full amount of the money offered for premiums at the 

 fair, the sum thus obtained, with our membership fees, will meet 

 the expenses of carrying on our work in the usual manner; but 

 will it be advisable to do so? Ought we to be satisfied to continue 

 on in the same old beaten path? If not, can we expect, can we lay 

 on individuals the burden and expense, where the labor contrib- 

 utes mainly to the public good rather than that of the laborer. 

 Fortunately, and I am happy to say deservedly, our society has the 

 good will and the confidence of the public. In years past many 

 expressions of the duty of the state to aid us, and a willingness on 

 their part to do what they could to help us, have been made to me 

 by members of the legislature, and there is little doubt, that, if the 

 times were favorable, the legislature would grant anything reason- 

 able that we might ask for, if they were satisfied that it would be 

 judiciously expended for the public good. It will be for you to 

 7 — Hobt. So. 



