FORTIETH ANNUAL REPORT. 47 



his life he was very active in the industry, being interested in the 

 nursery business as well as raising the fruit. He became interested in 

 this society at an early date and, while he did not often take part in 

 the discussions, he quite regularly attended its meetings and was very 

 much interested in its work. He counted some of his best friends among 

 its members. His regard for those men who aided and are building up 

 the horticultural science of today was very high and his faith in the 

 future of Michigan's fruit growing was unbounded. He died at Fenn- 

 ville in February of this year. , 



Mr. Hamilton passed away during last October. He was a man that 

 I have always held in very high esteem and I was glad to count him as 

 a personal friend, as his example was one worthy of emulation. He 

 was, from my very first knowledge of horticulture in Michigan, held up 

 to me as an honest nurseryman and I know that there are many in 

 tliis audience to testify to the honesty and integrity of Alexander Ham- 

 ilton. Certainly if an honest man is the noblest work of God, Alexander 

 Hamilton was one of the noblest works of the Creator. 



On motion, duly seconded, the report of the Secretary was unanimously 

 adopted. 



President Smythe — I believe there is a resolution before the House, 

 introduced last year, the purpose of which is to change the annual 

 membership fee from fifty cents to one dollar. We cannot change the 

 constitution of our Society without giving a year's notice. This notice 

 was given last year by Mr. Hale, and would have to be acted upon at this 

 meeting. 



Mr. Hale — I gave notice last year that I would at this meeting, 

 make a motion to change the constitution bearing on the annual mem- 

 bership, making the annual dues one dollar a year instead of fifty cents. 

 Now, ladies and gentlemen, during the past years things have changed. 

 We are not now in the day of cheap fruit and low prices for other farm 

 products that we used to have. Everything is higher now than it was 

 til en, and it seems to me that it would only be in keeping with thy 

 times to advance the membership fee. Even one dollar is but very little 

 for the amount of good we receive thrpugh the agency of the Michigan 

 State Horticultural Society, and therefore I now make a motion to 

 change the fee so that the annual membership will be one dollar a 

 member. 



A Member — I second the motion. 



Chairman — ^You have heard the resolution and the second. Are there 

 any remarks? 



Mr. Keasey — In consideration of the fact that we are not yet out of 

 the gloom of the past few years, and in consideration of the fact that we 

 have many, many people, who today are not in attendance because of 

 the lack of that little fifty cents; and in view of the fact that many here 

 have sacrificed to be here at this splendid convention so as to be with us, 

 it seems to me that this time is a little premature for raising this price. 

 There is a better day coming for Michigan, when the one dollar can 

 be more easily raised than now, so I am in, favor of leaving the price 

 as it now is, 



Mr. Welch — I think the move is a good one, and we can easily afford 

 the extra fifty cents. We are asking our Secretary to do a large amount 

 of work in which there is involved considerable expense and much more 



