How to Organize a Horticultural Society, also the Cousti- 

 tutiou for a Local Organization. 



Anj'one much interested on this subject of Horticulture can organ- 

 ize a society if he will speak to five or six different persons who are 

 known to be prominent in this matter. Tell them that there ought to 

 be a society in your county, and as it is such a good fruit country, ask 

 them if they do not want to help organize one. You will hardly meet 

 a refusal, but will be met with the remark " that they do not believe 

 there is interest enough in your county to keep one up." Never mind 

 this, but make an appointment to meet in some office in town on some 

 Saturday. If you can get five to come together, organize and elect 

 officers. Make the meetings regular each month and on the same Satur- 

 day. Some lawyer will let you have the use of his room to hold the 

 meetings. Have the meeting in the best town in the county even if 

 you have to go some distance to meet there. Talk this up until the 

 next meeting, and let each one promise to bring another. Do not expect 

 to have everyone belong, for they will not. Hold six winter meetings 

 (November to April) in the city or village, and at the March or April 

 meeting, select the places to hold the six summer meetings ( May to 

 October) at the homes of the members. Make this a picnic dinner, 

 meeting about 10 o'clock, and after the dinner, hold the meeting and 

 discussion ; offer a few premiums for fruits and flowers, and have a 

 general good time. Do not be afraid of a dollar or two, but use as 

 much judgment in this matter as you would in any business of your 

 own, and you will succeed. Talk to your neighbors about it if they 

 are interested in fruit-growing, if not, choose those who are so inter- 

 ested. They will not be much help to you if they are not fruit-growers. 

 Make out a programme for the year, choosing one or two for an essay 

 at each meeting. When the reports of the standing committees are 

 made, have it done in writing, and have a report at every meeting. 

 You cannot expect to have everything work in complete order at first, 

 and do not get discouraged if you find trouble in the start. Take your 



