August 20,.1910 



HORTICULTURE. 



271 



day in the annals of horticulture in 

 this country. 



I have to congratulate the society 

 on the splendid exhibition in Conven- 

 tion Hall at this time. The value of 

 these trade exhibits to the society can- 

 not be over-estimated, as they are of 

 great educational, as well as financial 

 benefit. 



I want to express to the Chamber 

 of Commerce of the City of Rochester 

 at this time, on behalf of the Society 

 of American Florists, our appreciation 

 of the magnificent building which has 

 been tendered to the society without 

 cost. I think you will all agree with 

 me that we have never had finer facil- 

 ities at any of our conventions. 



I wish, also, to congratulate the so- 

 ciety on the splendid attendance at 

 this convention. The vice-presidents 

 should be commended for the splendid 

 work that they have done in bringing 

 here such a large representation as 

 we see here today. 



In conclusion, let me urge every 

 member of the society to feel that our 

 future success depends not so much 

 upon the officers elected from time to 

 time, as upon the individual effoit of 

 each member. Looking back over the 

 last twenty-five years of horticulture 

 in this country, one cannot helvi nut 

 feel proud of the progress that has 

 been made in our profession; and 

 amidst such auspicious surroundings 

 as we find ourselves today, we should 

 be inspired to greater effort, that the 

 history of the next quarter-century 

 may record even greater progress. 



SECRETARY'S REPORT. 



Secretary H. B. Domer presented 

 his report. 



The books and other properties per- 

 taining to the Secretary's office, were 

 turned over by the outgoing Secretary 

 early in .January. Much commenda- 

 tion is due Mr. Rudd for the excellent 

 and simple system that he has de- 

 vised for the keeping of accounts and 

 records. It is only by a careful ex- 

 amination of these that one can fully 

 appreciate the thought and labor put 

 into the work. 



Condition of Finances. 



The finances of the Society are 

 steadily improving. The Permanent 

 or Life Membership fund at August 

 1st, had reached the sum of $8,313.50, 

 and to this amount will be added $125 

 for five new life memberships which 

 have been received since that date. A 

 full financial statement will be given 

 separately. 



Membership. 

 It is also gratifying to note that the 

 membership is also gradually increas- 

 ing. In 190S the membership of the 

 Society was SS9 at the end of the year. 

 In 1909 this had increased to 995. Up 

 to August 10th, 1910, the paid up mem- 

 bership number 825, which, with those 

 who pay their dues during the con- 

 vention week and the new members 

 joining at this time, promise to sur- 

 pass all records. 



New Members. 



The number of new members added 

 to the roll to date is 77. Pour of these 

 came in as life members. The Sec- 

 retary sent out, with most of the re- 

 ceipts, a request that each member 

 make an effort to secure at least one 

 new member. In reply to this four or 

 five names were sent in. Few realize 



SECRETARY'S FINANCIAL REPORT. 

 Year Ending December 31, 1909. 



RECEIPTS. 



Dues 1908— 22 $ 66.00 



" 1909—579 1,737.00 



" 1910— 6 18.00 



" 1911— 1 3.00 $1,824.00 



Fees and Dues, New Members: 



1909—192 960.00 



1910— 2 10.00 970.00 



Life Membership fees— 52 1,300.00 



Miscellaneous: 



Trade Exhibition, 1908 63.36 



Express Charges Refunded .75 



Proceeds, National Flower Show 1908. 483.17 



Trade Exhibition 1909 1,029.15 



Exchange included in remittances .95 1,577.38 $5,671.38 



PAYMENTS. 



Paid Treasurer, Permanent Fund 1,300.00 



Flower Show Fund 400.00 



General Fund 3,971.38 $5,671.38 



STATEMENT OF ORDERS DRAWN ON TREASURER, YEAR 1909. 



In Payment 1908 bills $ 468.14 



1909 " 3,557.27 



1910 " 107.20 $4,132.61 



For Investment Permanent Fund 7,500.00 $11,632.61 



January 1 to August 10, 1910. " 

 RECEIPTS. 



Dues 1908- 1 $ 3.00 



" 1909— 8 24.00 



" 1910—496 1,488.00 



" 1911— 3 9.00 $1,524.00 



Fees and Dues, New Members: 



1909— 1 5.00 



1910— 76 380.00 385.00 



Life Membership fees— 11 275.00 



Miscellaneous: 



Trade Exhibition, 1910 606.90 



Exchange included in remittances .60 607.50 $2,791.50 



PAYMENTS. 

 Paid Treasurer, Permanent Fund.... 150.00 



General Fund 2,228.25 2,378.25 



Amount on hand 413.25 $2,791.50 



STATEMENT OF ORDERS DRAWN ON TREASURER, YEAR 1910. 



In pavment 1909 bills $ 13.18 



1910 " 1,308.21 $1,321.39 



that if each member made an effort 

 and secured at least one addition to 

 the roll the membership would be al- 

 most 2,000 at the present time instead 

 of 995. Many plans have been devised 

 for increasing our numbers, yet how 

 many members have made a deter- 

 mined effort to convince their neigh- 

 bors that they should belong to the 

 S. A. F.? 



Payment of Dues. 



Many members overlook the fact 

 that dues are payable on the first day 

 of January, and a failure to pay them 

 at this time calls for a second notice. 

 This is not only additional work for 

 the Secretary but is an extra expense 

 to the Society. This money could be 

 well used in efforts to secure new 

 members. 



Trade Exhibition. 

 The Trade Exhibition of 1909, was a 



success in every way, being a great 

 improvement over former exhibits. 

 After all bills and the Superintendent's 

 commission were paid, a profit of 

 $629.15 remained in the Society's treas- 

 ury. During the present year several 

 changes were made in the rules gov- 

 erning the exhibition principal among 

 which were the increasing of the rates 

 and the limiting of all signs to black 

 lettering upon a white ground. This 

 latter change has done much to make 

 the exhibit more attractive. 



Investment of Permanent Fund. 



Following the instructions of the 

 Society, $7,500 of the permanent fund 

 has been invested by the Executive 

 Board. This investment is in the form 

 of two loans, one of $6,000 and the 

 other of $1,500, secured by mortgages 

 on properties located in Fort Wayne, 

 Ind. These securities bear interest at 

 5 per cent. 



