Northern Nut Growers Association, report of the proceedings at the sixth annual meeting | Page 5

propagating our best nut trees. He also offered three prizes of $5 each
for a nut contest and did the work necessary to get publicity for this
contest. He sent letters to the members of the horticultural societies of
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, and Ohio which
resulted in our getting 24 new members, mostly from the state of
Pennsylvania. Twenty-five dollars of the cost of this circularizing the
president paid out of his own pocket. The rest was more than made up
by the fees of new members. The president also had printed an
educational leaflet on nut growing for distribution by Mr. Cobb with
the nut trees which he sends to the schools and farmers of Michigan.
With Professor Close he was on the finance committee which sent a
circular letter to the members of the Association for funds to help pay
for the printing of the annual report, and obtained advertisements for
the report. As stated in the treasurer's report contributions for this
purpose amounted to $42.50 and advertisements brought in $42.00.
Prizes
The Association offered last year prizes of $5 each for the best
shagbark hickory nut, black walnut and hazel nut sent in.
Something over a hundred specimens were received and the prize for
hickory nut was awarded to J. K. Triplett of Elkins, W. Va. The prize
for black walnut was awarded to J. G. Rush of West Willow, Pa. Mr.
Rush returned his prize to be used for the purposes of the Association.
No prize for hazels was awarded as only one or two insignificant

specimens were sent in.
Perhaps the stimulation of this contest accounts for our being able to
offer such substantial prizes for this year. In addition to the $80 worth
of prizes already announced the secretary has received from a life
member, James H. Bowditch of Boston, a check for $25 as a prize to be
offered by the Association for a hickory nut under such conditions as
the Association may decide. A circular announcing these prizes has
been sent out to agricultural and other papers to the number of 200, the
expenses of which have been borne by another member, Mr. Chas. H.
Plump of Connecticut. A committee on competitions should be
appointed or the direction of them delegated to some already existent
committee.
Membership
Seventy-four members were added during the interval between this
meeting and the last, one less than in the previous year. Since its
organization 287 persons have joined the Association. We have at
present 153 paid up members, 21 more than last year. There are a few
members whose dues are unpaid who are active workers and will
eventually pay, probably.
Four members have resigned, though none in anger, and we have lost
one by death, the late Prof. H. E. Van Deman.
Annual Dues
Some way should be found out of the difficulties arising from the
dissatisfaction of members who join late in the year when they receive
a notice for dues soon after having once paid.
It is desirable to take in members at all times during the year. At the
same time some method should be found to give the late comer
something for his money. Shall membership continue to date from the
calendar year? Or shall we make some change? Some societies date
memberships from the opening of the annual meeting. It would not be
impossible to make memberships date from the beginning of the

quarter year immediately following date of joining. This would give
every member a full year at least before he would again receive a notice
for dues.
It would be quite inconvenient to date each membership from the day
of joining. It would not be so bad if members paid promptly on receipt
of notice.
Or a rebate might be made for each month of the year elapsed before
new members' dues were paid.
Meetings
No field meeting was held this year. It has been suggested, and would
seem to be a favorable subject for discussion, that it might be well to
hold our annual meeting late in the year in some central location, such
as New York City, Philadelphia or Washington, for our business and
formal program of papers and discussions, and the study of the nuts
sent in, perhaps for judging any competition that might be held, if the
meeting were late enough for that; and a summer meeting of informal
nature at some place where nut trees with their crops growing could be
studied.
Nut Journal
Our official organ, the American Nut Journal, has done its part well
through the past year and is becoming, as it should, a very important
element in the success of the purposes of this Association. Most new
and old members of the Association have availed themselves during the
year