The society maintained an office at the late state fair, at which a considerable number of memberships were received and a large number of members met by the secretary and other officers of the society. We believe this was an excellent move and should be continued in the future.
As to the horticultural exhibit at the state fair, while the secretary has no official connection with it, it should be spoken of as a very satisfactory exhibition indeed and well handled. The building as a whole, covering all branches of horticultural work, was a real credit to the various interests represented and well deserves all the time and expense lavished upon it.
Probably the most important event of the year with which the secretary was officially connected was the effort made to secure an appropriation from the state legislature in session last winter for the construction of a building for the uses of the Horticultural Society. The building committee, with which the secretary served, held a number of meetings with members of the Board of Regents and various committees at the state legislature, at which a considerable number of our membership besides those regularly on the committee were in attendance and took part in appeals in the interest of the building. The secretary's service in this connection was largely the effort made to enlist the co-operation of the membership in the way of getting them to write letters or talk personally with the members of the legislature upon the subject, and an appeal was sent out through the mails to all of our membership with this object in view. The response was a most liberal one, far beyond our expectations. Some of the members of the legislature received over thirty letters from their constituents asking their support to this measure. There was not a single member of the legislature who did not receive some communications about this matter. In all there were sent in this manner to members of the legislature 1,594 letters. While our efforts to secure this building failed, it was, as we believe, largely on account of the prevailing and unusual sentiment for economy which permeated the legislature to an extraordinary degree, and we have reasonable assurance that a similar effort with the next legislature will bring us success. In regard to this matter the chairman of the building committee speaks more fully.
The financial report follows and to this your attention is respectfully requested.
Secretary's Financial Report, 1915.
A. W. LATHAM, SECRETARY.
| RECEIPTS. | |
| Balance | $91.62 |
| G. W. Strand, Treasurer | 685.96 |
| Life membership fees | 190.00 |
| Books sold | 14.10 |
| Cuts sold | 7.50 |
| Banquet tickets sold at 75c each | 138.00 |
| Garden Flower Society, account premiums | 65.00 |
| Annual fees, 1914 | 8.00 |
| Annual fees, 1915 | 3,004.00 |
| Annual fees, 1916 | 263.00 |
| ————- | |
| $4,467.18 | |
| DISBURSEMENTS. | |
| Postage | $717.33 |
| Office rent | 420.00 |
| Telephone | 55.45 |
| Premium books | 113.61 |
| Office supplies | 28.36 |
| Plant premiums | 105.14 |
| Assistance in office | 719.21 |
| Printing | 247.16 |
| Expenses annual meeting, 1914 | 90.73 |
| Expenses annual meeting, 1915 | 76.84 |
| Expenses summer meeting, 1915 | 14.64 |
| Banquet | 152.75 |
| Reporting annual meeting | 174.99 |
| Expenses vice-presidents | 29.17 |
| Expenses superintendents, trial stations | 50.59 |
| Assistance annual meeting 1914 | 100.50 |
| Expenses delegates, etc., meeting, 1914 | 224.07 |
| Expenses delegates to other societies | 30.29 |
| Discounts, membership fees, auxiliary societies, etc. | 825.54 |
| Examining officers' books | 10.00 |
| Treasurers salary, 1914 | 25.00 |
| Collecting checks | 10.00 |
| Plans of horticultural building | 40.00 |
| Officers' bonds, 1915 | 15.00 |
| Forestry Association | 50.00 |
| Insurance on library sundries | 8.00 |
| Sundries | 20.68 |
| Balance | 112.13 |
| ————- | |
| $4,467.18 | |
| GENERAL STATEMENT, DECEMBER 1, 1915. | |
| Balance in Hennepin County Bank December 1, 1914 | $177.38 |
| Interest in 1915 | $11.24 |
| ————- | |
| Total | $188.62 |
| Loring Fund, including interest | 140.60 |
| Balance with secretary | 112.13 |
| Balance with treasurer | 4,906.00 |
| ————- | |
| Total | $5,347.35 |