FOURTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 7 



state. Indeed, we are only just l^eginning' to appreciate 

 Connecticut's possibilities in this direction, and, with the 

 influence excited by this Society, the next few years should 

 witness a large increase in the acreage devoted to fruits, 

 especially apples and small fruits. 



During the year just closed the work of our Society has 

 gone steadily forward. The growth in strength and num- 

 bers has been healthy, though not as large as in some years, 

 and our efforts have been extended over a wider field. In 

 short, the good work of the organization is recognized and 

 appreciated throughout the state. The first item upon which 

 it is my duty to report is : 



Our Membership. 



On February ist, 1904, our total membership was 567. 

 During the year we have enrolled 87 new members, making 

 a total number of names on our list February ist, 1905, of 



654- 



There have been seven deaths in our membership during 

 the past year, and 68 members have failed to renew their 

 memberships for the past two years, and, as this is the time- 

 limit prescribed by our rules, we must drop them from the 

 roll, which leaves us an actual membership to date of 581. 



The gain for the year has not been as large as we could 

 wish, in fact.it is entirely too small, considering the strong 

 efforts made by your officers and membership committee to 

 increase the membership. That some w-ho have been mem- 

 bers should drop out from year to year is to be expected, but 

 a loss of almost nine per cent, in one year is most unfortu- 

 nate, and the subject should have our careful attention. Where 

 many members neglect to renew their membership, it means 

 a financial loss to the Society, which, at the present time, is 

 severely felt. It is not much that the Society requires of 

 each one of us, only a single dollar a year, but surely it is not 

 too great an obligation to ask in return for what the Society 

 gives. That which costs us something we usually appreciate 

 the more. 



To make the work of the Society so helpful and necessary 

 that it shall appeal to every single member every year, is no 



