HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 79 



Mr. Wilcox. Mr. Chairman, I move that a vote of thanks be 

 extended to President Elliot for his able and instructive address, 

 and that a committee be appointed by the chair to consider the 

 same and report thereon. The chair then appointed the following 

 committee : E. H. S. Dartt, J. S. Harris, S. H. Wilcox. 



A recitation was then rendered by Prof. Harter. 



The report of Secretary Hillman was then presented. 



SECRETARY'S ANNUAL REPORT. 



Mr. President and Fellow Members : 



I have the honor to present herewith my fifth annual report. 

 This is indeed a pleasing task, but it is necessarily prepared with 

 haste, owing to a pressure of duties of a private nature, and in 

 consequence of illness in the family. My time has been so much 

 occupied, in fact, that I have deemed it advisable to relinquish the 

 position of secretary, and to ask that some one be selected to fill 

 this responsible place who has more time at his disposal to devote 

 to the discharge of its many duties. 



I desire briefly to call attention, at this time more especially, to 

 matters of interest in connection with my official relation to the 

 society, as well as to the cause of horticulture in general. 



I scarcely need remind you, perhaps, that during the period of 

 time I have occupied the position of secretary, it has been my con- 

 stant aim and purpose to discharge the duties devolving upon me 

 in such a manner as to promote the highest interests of the Soci- 

 ety, and thus to aid in the advancement of horticultural interests 

 in this the North Star State. How Avell I may have succeeded in 

 this laudible undertaking, I leave to others to determine. It has 

 at least afforded constant pleasure on our part to note each year 

 the evidences of increasing interest being shown on horticultural 

 lines of work ; to find the plans of the society being carried out ; 

 to feel that the cause of horticulture in general was measurably 

 being raised to occupy a higher and broader plane ; that firmer 

 foundations were being laid, indicating substantial advancement in 

 each department of the work we seek to foster and encourage 



It has been our desire while occupying this position to make our 

 publications year by year still more and more valuable and attract- 

 ive, as well as more deserving of the good esteem of all; to make 

 the fact apparent to the world at large, that we, as a society, are 

 making sure and steady progress in Horticultural knowledge. 



