THE ANNUAL MEETING. 167 



secured, iit its own expense, the printing of several thousand copies of the 

 ]a!ter for distribution in punipiilet form. Should there be, in the opinion of 

 the menjbers of the societv, doubts respecting the wisdom or propriety of such 

 expenditure, action siiould at once be tai\en to give expression to the 

 same; since, if issued at all, it must be done in connection with the printing 

 of tlie volume of Transactions. 



The annual executive meeting of the State Agricultural Society, at which 

 preliminary arrangements are to be made for their operations during the sub- 

 sequent year, including the organization and management of the annual 

 State fair, next September, usually occurs in December or early in January. 

 If, therefore, it shall be our purpose to continue our arrangement with them 

 for the control i.nd conduct of the pomological and floral departments, it 

 becomes necessary that steps be taken at this meeting, looking to that object, 

 since such arrangements, heretofore, have only been made for the current year. 



The place of holding the February meeting of this society should, if prac- 

 ticable, be determined at this meeting, unless it shall be found expedient to 

 leave the matter open, in which case it may be left to the decision of the 

 Executive Committee, while the same course may be taken respecting the time 

 and place of the June meeting. 



There is great reason to regret that we, as a society, maintain so slight a 

 hold upon the sympathy of local societies, and give and receive so little in the 

 way of active co-operation. It becomes us to carefully consider whether or not 

 measures can be devised to strengthen the bond of union between the two, and 

 by more thorough concert be able to give a stronger impetus to the cause in 

 ■which we are all laborinof. 



It is also to be reofretted that so very few, even of the actual fruit-crrowers 

 and horticulturists of the State, become members of the society. The fact 

 seems to be that hundreds of such persons, with large pecuniary interest in our 

 cause, are constantly hanging upon its skirts, attending its discussions and 

 deliberations, profiting by its efforts, and even by one device or another 

 becoming possessed of its volumes of Transactions; yet contributing nothing to 

 its incomes, or toward the liquidation of its inevitable expenses; in fact making 

 use of its open-handed, public spirited, working members, without considera- 

 tion, to obtain the means or ability to 'Hurn an honest penny,'^ in the busi- 

 ness to which they are looking for their livelihood. We will not attempt to 

 farther characterize this chiss of hangers-on upon the society; but will rest 

 content with the suggestion that we, in conjunction with our worchy treasurer, 

 look carefully about us for some effective means of converting, if possible, all 

 the attendants upon our meetings, into ])aying members; and, in so doing, 

 greatly increase our ability to carry forward the work we have in hand. 



It would seem, indeed, that we owe to the State, which supplies the printed 

 volumes which we annually disti'ibute, not to allow them to pa-s from our 

 possession, except as a consideration for some increase of our ability to do 

 effectively, the woik to wiiich the society has consecrated its energies; and in 

 cotisideration of which they are bestowed. 



The society, as we think, very reasonably expects of those elected to positions 

 upon its Executive Board, that they will, as far as possible, attend its sessions; 

 and especially the meetings of the board. It has not unfrequently proved a 

 source of embarrassment that, at board meetings, especially, members have 

 been absent; occasionally to su'^h an extent as paitially or wholly to defeat 

 the object of such meeting. The re^tilations of some similar societies provide, 

 in such case, that the absence of a member of their Executive Board, from 



