REPORT OF EXECUTIVE BOARD. 23 



ing the old practice of growing seedlings in thick nursery rows, 

 where it is "the survival of the strongest" and where if by chance 

 they grow to bearing size they produce only inferior, medium sized 

 fruits. The board would like an expression of approval or disap- 

 proval of the above suggestion. 



The legislative committee, after convassing the necessities of our 

 horticultural work and the limited amount available from the state 

 appropriation for its needful extension, decided it was wise to ask 

 the legislature to grant yearly an additional $500 and an increase in 

 printing of 1,000 copies of our reports. Like all appropriations it 

 had to be engineered with considerable care and caution, and no 

 little time was spent in preparing the minds of the members of both 

 houses of the legislature for the small pittance asked. Several trips 

 were made to the capital by the writer and Sec'y Latham. When 

 the bill for our appropriation came up for its final passage there was 

 not a dissenting vote, showing conclusively that we were receiving 

 substantial backing for the energetic efforts put forth by the mem- 

 bers of our societv. 



SECRETARY'S ANNUAL REPORT, 1903. 



A. W. LATHAM, SECRETARY. 



This report comes down to the termination of the thirteenth year 

 of my connection with this society as its working officer. These 

 have been years of very pleasant service not unmixed with sadness, 

 however, as I recall the faces and forms of many who were valued 

 counsellors and friends now gone from us, three of whom, W. W. 

 Pendergast. Jas. T. Grimes and E. H. S. Dartt, have been taken away 

 during the past year. 



During these years, with the exception of one year, there has 

 been, year by year, a steady increase in the membership of the so- 

 ciety, until now at the close of the year 1903 the membership roll 

 aggregates 1,430, which is 182 more than the total roll of last year. 

 The membership this year is divided as follows : annual members, 

 1,308; life members, 82; honorary life members, 40. The gradual 

 increase of this roll in a way indicates the growth and influence of 

 the society and the extent of its work. Each additional name on the 

 roll establishes one more outpost from which an influence goes 

 abroad looking to the enlargement of the work of our organization. 

 In the secretary's office hangs a map upon which have been located 

 the homes of the members of the society; a little round ring of red 

 ink indicates each spot. The southern half of the state is covered 

 with some evenness with these marks, but in the northern half they 

 are few and far between. Probably the most thickly marked area 

 lies within 100 miles of Minneapolis, west and south, but the state 



