2 STATS POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



such size, attractive coloring and unrivalled keeping qualities as 

 to command attention in any market; and in endless varieties; — - 

 of pears, plums and grapes sufficient in variety and quality for all 

 our wants, and of the small fruits in the greatest profusion and 

 excellence. 



We have varieties of fruits more than sufficient in number and 

 intrinsically good enough in quality^, for our present purposes. 

 Our most urgent need is not the production of native seedling 

 fruits or the introduction of new varieties from abroad, but the 

 thorough, high cuUicalion of what we have ; with a judicious selec- 

 tion of the best varieties for that purpose. 



With an increased knowledge of the actual condition of the 

 business of fruit-growing in the State, the importance of these 

 two points has become each year more fully apparent than before, 

 and hence they have occupied a large share of the time at all of 

 our meetings. The exhibitions have also exerted a powerful influ- 

 ence in the same direction because attention to these fundamental 

 conditions is essential to successful competition. 



Membership. 



By reference to the list of members hereto appended, it will be 

 seen that the membership of the Society has changed somewhat 

 since the last report, chiefly by the falling off of a considerable 

 number of the earlier "annual members," who have not seen fit 

 to continue their contributions, and the accession of others in 

 their stead. This change is always to be expected, as there are 

 among those who become membprs (more especially at the annual 

 exhibitions) some who have no permanent interest in the work of 

 •the Society. The by-laws provide that the names of such persons 

 •shall be retained on the lists as members for two years after tiieii 

 annual payments have ceased. This provision was thouglit to be 

 -wise on the ground that it would prevent the summary dismissal 

 of many who through forgetfulness, temporary absence or inabil- 

 ity might neglect the payment of dues for a single year, and yet 

 might wish to retain a continuous membership. But it is found in 

 practi('e that it does not tend to encourage prompt payment, that 

 it increases the incidental expenses of the Society, produces to 

 that extent an essentially fictitious membership and brings but 

 little money into the treasury. It might be well for the Society 

 to consider the propriety of so amending the by-laws as to drop 

 the names of non-paying members at the end of one year. 



