INAUGURAL MEETING 11 



pared with a view of reaching men and women throughout the 

 Commonwealth who might be interested in our work. In 1917, 

 S3 new members were added, and in 1918, 24 new members were 

 added to our lists. Owing to deaths, resignations, etc., we lose 

 each year some 25 or 30 members. Our gain over losses during the 

 past year was only six members: 



December 31, 1918 985 



December 31, 1917 979 



A Gain of 6 members. 



This small membership means one of two things ; either that the 

 people are indifferent to horticulture — which I cannot believe to 

 be the case — or that the Society is not as well known throughout 

 the Commonwealth as it should be. Our activities should be 

 extended outside of Boston and its suburbs, so that the entire 

 Commonwealth should feel that they can turn to us for information 

 and instruction upon all subjects relating to horticulture. 



It must not be forgotten that the Massachusetts Horticultural 

 Society is a State Institution and not a local Boston society main- 

 tained for the benefit only of Boston and its immediate vicinity. 

 Our property is free from federal and state taxes. As the oldest 

 and best known Horticultural Society in the new world, rhuch 

 is expected of it and its progress and influence is watched and its 

 example followed far beyond the borders of the Commonwealth. 

 Each member of the Society should do all he can to increase our 

 membership by proposing at least one member. Our membership 

 should run into the thousands. Mr. Saltonstall said in his inaugu- 

 ral address last year, " Why, think of it, the list of Fellows in the 

 Royal Horticultural Society of London in 1914 was 14,400." 



The By-laws also seem to me to be unsatisfactory. I think 

 they hamper the Trustees by compelling them to arrange six or 

 more exhibitions each year of flowers, fruits, plants, and vegetables. 

 I am sorry that a new By-law recommended by the Trustees at 

 the last annual meeting, relating to this, was defeated. I recom- 

 mend that at the next annual meeting this same By-law be amended 

 and also that the By-law relating to the appropriation of money 

 for the purpose of prizes and gratuities also be amended so that 'the 



