C!ecretary's (^orr^er. 



Plant Premiums Given Out This Year.— Out of a total of 1,260 

 members April 1st, 450 availed themselves of the offer of plant premiums 

 offered this year to all members. After that date it was announced no selec- 

 tions could be made for the current year. 



Bounties for Tree Planting on the Prairies.— The last state legisla- 

 ture enacted as an amendment to a previous law a provision giving a bounty of 

 $2.50 per acre per year for a period of six years for each acre planted and kept 

 in good condition with any kind of forest tree except black locust. This is 

 limited to ten acres to any one person. 



Death of J. C. Walker— Mr. J. C. Walker died at Napa, California, on 

 February 3 last. He had removed to that place a year ago on account of his 

 health. Mr. Walker had been a member of this society for ten years. He was 

 a very earnest worker and a great addition to our organization. His home 

 until a year ago was at Rose Creek, Minn. 



A Simple Way of Protecting Cherries from Birds. — "Take old cot- 

 ton rags from old dresses. Tear them in strips about one inch wide and eigh- 

 teen inches long. Take all kinds of colors. Tie to the upper and outside 

 branches so that the wind will blow them about. This must not be done until 

 cherries are beginning to color, just before the birds begin eating them. I 

 saved my cherries the last two years in this way. Try it." — Martin Penning, 

 Sleepy Eye. 



The Meeting of The American Pomological Society. — This society 

 is to hold its next regular biennial session at Boston on September 10, 11, and 

 12, a three days session. Who of our members is planning to be in New Eng- 

 land at that time and can attend as a representative of this society? Any such 

 . should notify the secretary and secure proper credentials. If more than one 

 representative is there all the better. We ought always if possible to be re- 

 presented at the meetings of that society. 



How to Secure New Members. — Here is a method of one member in 

 prosecuting this work of securing new members for the society — and I can 

 vouch for the success of his method as he has sent in a large number of mem- 

 bers as a result. He says, "I armed myself with a few copies of the monthlr 

 Horticulturist, my bound volume and the society circulars, went to the differ- 

 ent stores, called everybody around me and explained everything about its 

 purpose and work, and I have received several promises for new members." 



Our Increased Printing Appropriation. — The new printing law for 

 our society as amended passed the house Monday, April 6th, and the senate 

 Tuesday, April 7th. Every vote cast in voting on this measure in both branches 

 of the legislature was in its favor. Not one voted against it. This law gives us 

 exactly what we asked for, 4,000 volumes and $2,500 annually to pay for 

 them. This is an increase of 1,000 volumes over the old law, and will enable 

 us to provide for the probable increase in our membership roll the coming two 

 years. And then what? The law will soon be printed in full in our monthly 



