286 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



PENNSYLVANIA FRUIT -GROWEll'S SOCIETY. 



AVe cannot better describe this society and its work than by quoting the 

 whole of Secretary E. B. Engle's letter. 



Marietta, Pa., Jan. 1st, 1880. 



Dear Sir : — Y^our circular of inquiries received, and I take pleasure in 

 responding as fully as time and knowledge will permit. 



Istj Society name. *^ Pennsylvania Fruit Grower's Society." As origin- 

 ally organized it was entitled *'The Fruit Growers Society of Eastern Penn- 

 sylvania," but its work not being, or not intending to be, confined to the east- 

 ern section of our State, the word Eastern was dropped some 15 years ago. 



2dy Hoiu controlled? . By a board of officers consisting of a President, 3 

 Vice Presidents, a Recording Secretary, a Corresponding Secretary, and a 

 Treasurer, who are elected annually by the Society. We have also annual 

 standing committees which are appointed by the President, and which in a 

 great measure assist in the Society's labors. Chief among these is the General 

 Fruit Committee, which consists of one member from every county in the 

 State represented in the Society, each member having the power to appoint 

 two assistants in his own county. Tiie following extract from Article 2d of 

 our *' By-Laws," will best convey to you an idea of the duties of this com- 

 mittee : 



**The General Fruit Committee shall carefully and thoroughly investigate 

 the subject of fruit culture in general. Each local committee of three shall 

 collect such useful and interesting information in relation to the subject as 

 may be in their power, and embody the same in monthly reports, to be made to 

 the general chairman ; such reports to be by him examined and embodied in 

 his annual or semi-annual reports." 



Sdy State aid. Our Society has no direct aid from the State. Since 1870, 

 the State has printed free our annual reports, and since 1878, an annual ap- 

 propriation of $130 is allowed for compiling and preparing the same for pub- 

 lication. 



4thf Method of luorh. We hold annual meetings in different sections of 

 the State, in January of each year, where questions relating to Horticulture, 

 Floriculture, Fruit-growing and kindred topics are discussed. L^sually papers 

 are prepared or addresses made on assigned subjects. Questions are proposed 

 for discussion, and members give their views on new fruits and general horti- 

 cultural matters of interest. Standing committees are appointed for work in 

 the interim, and are expected to submit their reports at the annual meetings. 



5ih, Special work on hand. Ko special work on hand ; none further than 

 to labor earnestly and zealously for the advancement of general horticultural 

 taste and knowledge throughout the State. 



6th, Memhership, AVe have honorary members, about 20 life members, and 

 an annual membersliip ranging from about fifty to one hundred. Fee for 

 annual membership, 81.00; life membership, 810.00. 



7th, Rooms at the capitol. We have no rooms at the Capitol, nor a general 

 head quarters anywlierc; we go from place to place, holding our annual meet- 

 ings where we have best prospects of doing good, acquiring information, and 

 increasing our membership. 



