48 STATE PoMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



family use. And that brings us to the question, how can we 

 increase our membership ? Every member that is added to our 

 society is, to a certain extent, an example to others in his neigh- 

 borhood, as it is almost sure to result in better practices, pleasanter 

 surroundings, and a happier home. This question has been called 

 up before, but we wish it might have careful consideration, and 

 see if some inducement cannot be held out to the fruit growers and 

 farmers throughout the State to become members of our society, 

 and surely by gaining members we should gain some strength. 

 Let us all take a hand in this, and see if we cannot bring it to pass. 



We would like to call attention to the fact that at all our meet- 

 ings and exhibitions a goodly number of farmers and fruit grow- 

 ers are anxious to learn the name of some variety of apples, pears 

 or plums. Quite often some one has been on hand who was well 

 fitted to give the desired information, and they have always been 

 kept busy during their stay with us. It would seem to us that the 

 subject calls for more attention, and that funds should be appro- 

 priated, to have some good authority on all the fruits in which we 

 are interested in attendance at all our exhibitions and meetings 

 where fruit is displayed. I apprehend that our exhibition in the 

 line of plums is to increase wonderfully within the next ten years, 

 and with the best of care the naming of them will be very much 

 mixed and uncertain ; so that it will require a man that is fully up 

 with the times in all the lines of fruit culture. The services of 

 such a person will cost something, but I think it would give great 

 satisfaction, not only to our exhibitors and members, but to many 

 of our visitors who come to look over our exhibition, bringing with 

 them an apple or a pear for a name. 



The increase of our State stipend that was asked for from our 

 last legislature, and cheerfully granted, but got "side-tracked" 

 before it got through the tortuous road all bills are obliged to 

 travel to get fully through our lawmakers' hands, should be care- 

 fully looked after some time during the present session, and see if 

 we cannot get what it was voted for this society to have for the 

 past two years. You will see by the last report of our Treasurer that 

 the sum of $420.27 was due the permanent fund — in other words, 

 that amount has been drawn or borrowed from the fund. I wish 

 to urge a discussion of that subject upon our members present at 

 this meeting, to see if some way cannot be devised to restore this 

 amount to the permanent fund. 



