Teansactions at the Annual Meeting. 131 



Mr. Plumb regarded it not as a question as to what we should 

 do, but rather whether we should do anything or nothing. This 

 was the most important work the society could engage in, and he 

 thought we could do more to promote the horticultural interests 

 of the state by this kind of work than in any other way. It not 

 only encourages the local societies, and makes them more efficient, 

 but it increases the inlluence and power of the State Society. 

 He hoped that we would not think of doing less, but rather 

 more. 



Mr. Iloxie said that the influence on the local interest, where 

 these meetings were held, was very beneficial, and that if it was 

 necessary to the carrying out of this work he would favor the 

 payment of all the expenses by the State Society. 



Mr. Stickney did not deem this advisable, especially in most 

 instances. It was true that it was a little diffiiult for some of the 

 local societies to raise the money needed, but it was usually 

 made up by the citizens of the place generally, and was not felt 

 as a heavy burden, and then, at least three-fourths of the money 

 expended was left in the place or locality where the meeting was 

 held, and would in a measure compensate for their portion of the 

 expense. lie would- favor the payment of the printing and other 

 extra expenses by the State Society, but thought we ought to ask 

 the local society to bear half the expense of the premiums. 



The secretary thought that the State Society, in its present 

 gnancial condition, could not bear all the expense, especially if 

 their number was to be increased. While there was no doubt in 

 regard to the importance of this work, and the beneficial results 

 coming from it, he felt that it would not be advisable to increase 

 the number of these meetings, but, on the contrary, that it would 

 be better to hold only one June meeting, and to make that the 

 best possible- The experience of the past season had been the 

 same with that of previous years, namely, that it was very diffi- 

 cult to secure a large attendance of the members of the State 

 Society at any of these meetings, and where a number are held, as 

 it is impossible to attend all, the preference naturally is to go 

 where there will be the most interest, and where they will meet 

 with the largest number of members, and the result is the other 



