Summer Meeting, 97 



The work of the Society continues to be an advancing one. 

 More and more do we help those in need as to information and as- 

 sistance and the experiences of the members. Our report has tne 

 hearty good will of not only the people of the State, but also of all 

 other states and nations where it has been sent. Only a few of the 

 notices are here given to you. The prospect for a good crop of 

 fruit has put new life into some of our local societies and been the 

 cause of new societies being organized. These local societies are 

 of more value to our people, and especially the people of the coun- 

 ties in which they rule, than most people imagine. It gives en- 

 thusiasm to the cause. It gives organization. It gives publicity. 

 It shows life and vim and push. It shows that we try and help our- 

 selves, and people of other states and counties give heed to what 

 we do. County organization is a great helper in all kinds of local 

 work, as it attested by results wherever this is done systematically. 



World's Fair medals have been slow in coming, but are now 

 being delivered. I have received some dozen letters saying they 

 had not yet received theirs. This matter will be taken up, and we 

 will see if every one cannot get his own award. 



Missouri was awarded more medals in Horticulture than any 

 other State, and we want every man to get his own. Results have 

 shown that our effort there was a grand one, and enough praise 

 cannot be given to all these good men who so nobly and unselfishly 

 gave of their time and fruits for the honor of our State. 



Many meetings of the Executive Committee are held, of 

 course, during the year, and they are always working for the best 

 interests of the Society. These meetings are not always made pub- 

 lic, but they are always the business end of the Society, and their 

 labors are the same as the executive committee of any bank or 

 company or other business concern. 



A notable instance of this was when the committee took from 

 our fund $1,000.00 and deposited it in the Missouri Valley Trust 

 Co., which some parties in the eastern part of the State thought 

 was hidden away, but the committee were guarding it well. 



Another instance is the resolution asking the Legislature to 

 change the laws about the appointment of the Trustees of the Mt. 

 Grove Station. Their work is now being called into question by 

 some parties in the western part of the State. 



But that you may know what the Executive Committee did in 

 this matter, perhaps it would be well to give here the facts in this 

 case: The Executive Committee, presuming on the fact that the 

 Society had confidence in their ability and honesty and integrity to 



