HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 231 



tain what rights or power we have in reference to the §500 still in 

 the state treasury — whether it is available for us to use. The com- 

 mittee do not understand whether that can yet be reached. 



Also to endeavor to secure a different ruling from the secretary 

 of state, or whoever has this matter in charge, in regard to binding 

 in cloth our annual report. In the past they have ruled that the 

 law contemplated the binding of the report in paper; and this year, 

 and I think last year, but anyhow this year, it has been paid for 

 mainly by the society. That accounts for the indebtedness and 

 about makes up the amount we are behind. It was the intention 

 to bind a portion of the reports in paper and a portion in cloth, 

 but for the sake of getting them all bound in cloth there was a new 

 law passed, but there seems to be something wrong about it so 

 they don't bind them all for us; they give them to us in paper. 



It is suggested that the secretary should put in at least four 

 months' time during the year for work for the society. 



Mr. Cutler: I would inquire in what way the secretary should 

 put in his work. 



President Elliot. If it is to be inferred from this that our for- 

 mer secretary has not put in the right amount of time, I want to 

 say that Mr. Hillman has put in a great deal of time in the arrange- 

 ment of the reports, during each of the years he has held the posi- 

 tion, and I think I would not want to have anything of that kind 

 go into our report and I think it had better be stricken out entirely. 



Mr. Wilcox said that all the members of the society had in ev- 

 ery way the highest regard for Mr. Hillman, and he was such a valu- 

 able man that he could not continue to give four or five months of 

 his time to the interest of the society, for the sum of money he 

 had been receiving. When we consider the state of our finances 

 and the demands that are likely to be made upon them, and consid- 

 er the fact that something must be done to sustain our local so- 

 cieties, we see no other way of doing this work except by putting 

 upon the secretary some of this work. 



Col. Stevens. I do not think you can get a secretary who will 

 spend four months in the year of his time for $500; I don't think 

 there is a man who is capable of acting as secretary who would do 

 ♦t. It is well known that Mr. Hillman has done his duty in every 

 particular. He was determined not to accept nomination this year. 

 I venture to say that he has labored more hours for this society 

 than any man who has ever been secretary, or ever will be, for 

 the trifling sum of $500. Now, he will not be secretary any 

 more; he utterly refuses to accept the office. He has done this 

 society great good, and I don't believe you can get a man that will 



