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The membership of the Moss Society shows a slight decrease since the last 

 annual report, there now being 140 members as against 143 then. The death of 

 three members, Messrs. Hagen and McDonald, and Miss Miller, has come to 

 the Secretary's knowledge the past year; three members have resigned; three 

 have been dropped for failure to pay the annual dues. To partially balance 

 these losses six new names appear upon our lists. It should be obvious that a 

 steady increase in membership is very desirable. While it is unlikely that a 

 very large number of persons will ever be interested in the work of the Moss 

 Society, still our present membership should be increased by one half if the 

 Society is to continue to do useful, active work. Greater losses may at anytime 

 be expected among our elder members, and an increase of revenue is really 

 most necessary. The Secretary is opposed to making any increase in the dues, 

 feeling that it is really for the best interests of the Society and of scientific study 

 to have these fees as low as possible. On the other hand, the cost of printing 

 the magazine alone is more than twice what it was five years ago, and plates are 

 still more expensive in proportion. While the financial report shows a balance 

 on hand, and this balance will be sufficient to meet the costs of the two issues of 

 The Bryologist remaining for 1920, it should be remembered that the costs of 

 postage, expressage, herbarium expense, and plates, shown by the account is 

 merely nominal. Much of this expense is voluntarily assumed by the officers, 

 curators, and contributors, as their individual contribution to the success of the 

 Society. This should not be necessary. 



The statements above bring the Secretary to two points that have been 

 emphasized in all of his recent Reports: the state of the exchange department, 

 and the necessity for short notes in the magazine. For many years the Secretary 

 has kept a record of the material offered, and of the number of persons applying 

 for his own offerings. The falling off has been steady. It is no longer possible 

 for the Secretary to obtain sufficient good material to offer foreign members for 

 exchange. He cannot ask them to give without adequate return. It is with 

 much regret that the Secretary makes this announcement, but the results no 

 longer are at all commensurate with the labor expended. There are still on 

 hand specimens of many interesting species, which the Secretary will gladly 

 distribute to any member who wishes to send good material in exchange. But, 

 there will have to be more cooperation. 



Exactly a similar situation exists in regard the The Bryologist. To in- 

 crease our membership it is necessary to have articles of interest to the beginner, 

 and articles that have a certain popular appeal. The Secretary refers especially 

 to articles such as those of Dr. Frye and Dr. Bailey during the past year. To 

 increase these articles more members must take a personal interest. Neither 

 the Secretary nor the Editor have the time to write begging letters for short 

 notes. Neither do they like, as has been necessary the past year, to refuse 

 articles of permanent value, because the space requirements and costs of plates 

 are so far beyond our ability. Just as soon as the financial standing of the Society 

 justifies it, the magazine will print 20 pages per issue. To accomplish this 

 means active cooperation, not passive acceptance, on the part of each individual 

 member. 



