OFFICERS’ REPORTS. an 
It is unlikely that many of the members, outside of the executive 
officers of the society, realize the amount of work now being done 
in the secretary’s office. Some idea may be gathered from the 
financial statement contained herein, the large amount paid out for 
postage and stationery giving some idea ofits magnitude. Amongst 
the more noticeable items of work in the office may be noticed the 
following: February 9th, letters were sent to 300 members of the 
society who had not renewed their membership; included in these 
letters were membership tickets filled out. On February 15th, letters 
calling attention to “The Horticulturist” were sent to 100 of the prin- 
cipal newspapers of the state, enclosing return postals, and solicit- 
ing free advertising for the society. On March 15th, a letter contain- 
ing a notice of our fruit list was sent to 300 state papers, asking free 
advertising, about two-thirds of which number responded favor- 
ably. On the first of April a review of the April number was sent 
for publication to some 200 state papers. On April 15th,a circular 
letter with enclosed form for reply was sent to all the old members 
of the society, some 850. Many responded and renewed their rela- 
tion with us. 
The largest work of this character was the advertising done in 
connection with the scheme for organizing horticultural clubs. A 
proposal to form horticultural clubs, brought before you at the 
last winter meeting, was turned over to the executive committee for 
examination and action, and in pursuance with their plan a form of 
organization, pledge and topics for discussion at several meetings 
was prepared and sent out, accompanied by one of the society folders 
and return envelope, to all the school district clerks in the state, in 
the neighborhood of 6,000. It was the latter part of February before 
these were sent out, and too late to expect many such organizations 
for work that season. President Underwood organized the most 
flourishing club we know of under this plan, having some 25 or 30 
members. If we could secure his services in other parts of the 
state in this missionary work, similarly good results would surely 
follow. As faras known only two other clubs were organized, but 
alot of good seed was sown,and some of it at least fell on good 
ground. We shall reap in future the fruits of this investment of 
some $156,and our efforts in this direction should by no means 
cease. The above recital of work done does not include a host of 
lesser circular letters to members of committees and other officers 
of the society, requests for names, etc., to say nothing of the regular 
correspondence of the office, ranging from one to twenty letters a 
day, nor with the personal interviews there with our membership 
whenin the city. The secretary’s office is made a sort of rallying 
point for the horticultural interests of the state,as it is appropriate 
it should be. All are welcome. 
The annual membership for 1894 stands at 522. This shows a 
steady movement in the increase of our numbers, as appears from 
the following table: Membership, 1890, 123; 1891, 229; 1892, 300; 1893, 
378; 1894, 522. Of these 522,210 were new members who received the 
premiums offered by some of our public-spirited members. It is 
right that some mention should be made of these premiums, as they 
