24 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



His resignation was not tendered until the state of his health had become 

 such that it was necessary at once to relieve him of the cares and responsi- 

 bilities of the position. This had the effect, for the time, to throw these cares 

 and responsibilities upon the president. 



THE JOINT MEETING AT BENTON HARBOR. 



Prior to Mr. Garfield's resignation, he had received proposals from the 

 Berrien County Horticultural Society to hold its June meeting at Benton 

 Harbor, jointly with that of the West Michigan Fruit Growers' Association, 

 whose meeting had already been appointed at that place. This invitation, 

 with the accompanying correspondence and a statement of what had been 

 done in the matter, was received from Secretary Garfield along with his resig- 

 nation. After correspondence with members of our executive board and 

 others, I wrote to the Benton Harbor Society, accepting the invitation, con- 

 ditioned upon the approval of the proper authorities of the West Michigan 

 Society which was to be secured by the authorities of the Berrien Society. 

 I am assured that such approval was promptly requested; and yet the request 

 was only responded to at so late a date as to leave an exceedingly limited 

 period within which to issue and distribute a notice of such meeting; while 

 the needful arrangements for conducting the joint and several sessions were 

 unavoidably left to be adjusted at the time of meeting. In fact, the assent 

 of President Phillips was received at so late a date that proposals for a sepa- 

 rate meeting, at a different point, had been agreed upon by the members of 

 our board, and, but for the opportune receipt of such assent, the notices for 

 the proposed separate meeting were to have been given to the press by the 

 next mail. 



The arrangements between the two societies were readily and satisfactorily 

 effected; and yet, to those who attended the sessions, it hardly need be stated 

 that the circumstances were but ill calculated to encourage the frequent repe- 

 titions of similar combined meetings. 



OFFICIAL CHANGES. 



At a session of our executive board held during the continuance of the Ben- 

 ton Harbor meeting, the resignation of Secretary Garfield was accepted, and 

 Edwy C. lleid of Allegan was appointed to fill the vacancy. Mr. Reid, in 

 consequence, resigned his position as member of the executive board, and the 

 vacancy thus created was filled by the appointment of W. A. Brown of 

 Benton Harbor. 



AS TO THE FUTURE. 



During the earlier years the charm of novelty, coupled with a natural and 

 commendable enthusiasm, served to maintain a strong and permanent inter- 

 est in our meetings ; but during the later and maturer years, the charm of 

 novelty seems to have worn off, and the maintenance of the old-time interest 

 and enthusiasm seems to be becoming increasingly difficult, the apparent 

 facts being that the overlying ideas and principles which at the first attracted 

 earnest attention and discussion have been ''worked out," and we are in con- 

 tact with the much broader underlying stratum, which, while equally indis- 



