How TO Organize a Horticultui[al Society, 



ALSO THE 



CONSTITUTION FOR A LOCAL ORGANIZATION. 



Any one much interested on this subject of Horticulture can 

 organize a society if he will speak to five or six different persons 

 who are know^n 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 w^aut 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 Saturday. 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 

 pic-nic 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 interested. 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 



