116 
AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 
something of an honorary nature which was to be held out as an inducement 
to Biennial Members to become Life Members. 
Mr. J. C. Evans concurred in the view expressed by Mr. Patten and said he 
thought that, as to the present Life Members, the imposition of a charge for 
any privilege would be ex post facto, and therefore irregular. 
Mr. J. Horace McFarland submitted a motion which (after modification) 
was read as follows: That the Executive Committee be empowered to in- 
vestigate the matter, and, if found advisable, to procure a proper Certificate 
of Life Membership to be sent to each present Life Member of the American 
Pomological Society and to those who may in future become Life Members. 
Mr. L. A. Goodman discussed the probable cost of the certificate. He said 
that the copper plate for a high school diploma of which he had knowledge 
and which was a fine design for printing on parchment, cost $65. He estb 
mated the cost of a lithographed certificate as not exceeding $25 or $30. He 
said he thought the Society could afford to assume this expense, particularly 
in view of the probable return of the money in an increase of Life Member- 
ships. 
Mr. McFarland said he thought the cost of an original copper' plate design, 
well executed and of a suitable character, would be considerably over $100. 
He explained that the copper plate is engraved on the copper, while a litho- 
graph plate is engraved on stone; and that the latter, if well prepared, would 
resemble a copper plate and many persons would be puzzled to decide be- 
tween the two. He added that a diploma or certificate offered by a Society 
of the importance of this one should be of the best character. 
Professor VanDeman remarked that, if a copper plate was purchased, it 
would become the property of the Society for all time and that the same plate 
could be used for subsequent printing, but this would not be the case with a 
lithographic stone, which would remain in the possession of the lithographer. 
Mr. McFarland said he thought this motion was sufficiently broad to en- 
able the Executive Committee to exercise their discretion in the premises. 
Dr. Hexamer expressed the opinion that the contemplated expenditure was 
not warranted by the present financial condition of the Society. He said the 
Wilder fund could not be touched for this purpose and, aside from that, the 
balance in the treasury was not large enough and should not be expended for 
a thing which was not absolutely necessary. He advised that action in the 
matter be deferred to # a future meeting. 
Mr. Goodman suggested that it might not be bad business management to 
spend $100, if thereby the Society could realize $500 in additional life mem- 
berships. 
Col. Brackett said he thought that, if the Society had funds to spare, it 
would be more advisable for it to increase the salary of the Secretary. 
The Secretary objected to the introduction of personalities in the discussion. 
He argued that in addition to the sentimental conditions in favor of it, the 
certificate plan strongly commended itself as a business proposition. He 
thought that many men interested in commercial fruit culture could be 
secured as members if they were given some tangible evidence of member- 
ship, which they could have before them in their homes or at their places of 
business. He regarded the motion as unobjectionable; it did not require the 
Executive Committee to secure the certificate but left the matter discretionary 
with them. 
