SECRETARY'S REPORT. 
_ Our possessions are both tangible and intangible. Of these, the 
latter are,in my judgment, by far the more important. I need not 
= ake time to recite them, as they are well known to you all, but without 
_ the love for our work and for each other that has grown with our 
_ growth, the memories of our pleasant associations, many of them 
et allowed and made tender by the recollection of those of our mem- 
ry bers who will meet with us no more, our society would lack sadly 
_ the elements that bind us together in such fraternal and forceful 
accord. Before this greater share of our possessions the tangible 
‘ dwindles palpably, and yet these latter are the very necessary tokens 
and reminders of the former. 
The twenty-five printed annual reports of our society are the 
ae 2 records of our efforts and purposes and breathe of our ambitions 
Be and hopes during the nearly one-third century of its existence. 
_ Another tangible possession in which we have an honest pride is 
the medal awarded our society by the American Pomological So- 
ciety, in 1893, for a display of fruit at their biennial meeting—one of 
only four awarded. Our other possessions of a similar character 
so far belong to the intangible class, except as to the record appear- 
ing in our printed reports, as neither the New Orleans’ Exposition 
nor the World’s Fair rounded out its work by distributing the med- 
als awarded, though it is not impossible it may be done in the com- 
ing century when a sufficient amount of red tape has finally been 
rolled off. 
The volumes on our library shelves are a strictly tangible anda 
steadily growing quantity. They now number, aside from our own 
reports, 617, of which 59 have been received the past year. Besides 
these there is a large quantity of horticultural periodicals, experi- 
_ mentstation and government reports steadily accumulating, enough 
being now on hand to add nearly another hundred volumes to our 
library. 
As to that other very useful possession, the financial, the treasurer 
will more properly speak. Of the funds coming into the secretary’s 
e hands | in the form of membership fees and id advertising in our 
=a RECEIPTS FOR 1897. 
ate Annual members fob 1898.2. -20. see cow aceaee estbdieh cae. $69.00 
AMTital MeMIDErStOG ISI, acs aaleescasbviccen cs tluceese seas 573.00 
Am ntiall.111 Et DETS LOR 1896. <5 sc wa acess adic ve tueud Neeces te 42.00 
SArnateur Proit, Growing. S01). 3.0 +0. .tiess cece wo ce cs 10.35 
“Veretable Gardenitig’”™ SOld .. 2. cee nce ees. oc ccdscease- se 12.50 
NE? Set... transportation SOld oon 05 5 so tees win awncem 8.75 
Frtemembership fE€Sie-. ccs css - cece seca ele <egae voaee cel 35.00 
NG WErhisitto: 191/3Na GAZING hs. ot cdcae oan ce scan odes cases 142 87 
EDGER Re sac tec ncac sie Herre ING ciate stze se oe 2 oelarau Deamto reo aiaee & $893 .47 
Geder Gr Creqsisrens.. 22 saare sie cirese econ: ees Moe Neda sos , 528.76 
$1,422.23 
. % 
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