HORTICULTURAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 85, 14 August 1913, Page 8

HORTICULTURAL.

SOCIETY’S ANNEAL MEETING. Tlu annual meeting of the Horticultural Society was held last night, Mi P. Thomson, president, being in the chair.

REPORT AND BALANCE-SHEET. The working account showed a loss of £G 3s 9d, tho total expenditure being £23 17s 3d. The statement of assets and liabilities showed a balance of assets of £25 17s 3d. The Committee’s report was as follows:—Your Committee beg to report that tin's year, the ninth of the Society’s existence, has been much the same as preceding years, in that by stermious efforts on behalf of those directly connected with the working of the shows, the Society has survived an enlarged prize-list and still has a. small cash balance to its credit. The usual shows were held during the

year. The spring show was a very line exhibition, the Daffodil Cup, the donation of the Mayor, Mr V\ . T*. Kirkwood, being won by Mrs Arden from a strong class. The native and ■other flowers were well represented, and the Foresters’ Hall was hardly largo or well lighted enough to do the show justice. The autumn show was well up to the usual standard and fairly well patronised by the public. The prize-list was very generously supported by friends of the Society, who merit its best thanks for their liberal donations. The new classes introduced mot with fair support, the cottage garden exhibits being of high merit and proving an interesting feature of the show. The thanks of cho Society are due to those friends .v iio acted as stewards and judges, and to tho press for liberal support. 1 he departure from the district of Mr and Mrs Cl. T. James and Mr T. Webb,

for many seasons consistent supporting of the Society’s undertakings, is i. matter for regret, but the Commit.oo hope that helpers will come for.vard to take their places during the coming year. The President, moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet ;aid at last autumn show some classes were added and the interest displayed n tho.classes justified their addition, there was always a loss on the autumn show, but they did not look to ho show to make money. Tho object >f tho Society,was to increase the interest, in flower-growing and to irnirove the class of flowers grown. The niblio always attended tho shows .toll, thought rain had sometimes interfered. As to contributions from

rkmdsiof the Society, last year most if those approached willingly gave conributionsj which]seamed to show that recognised ithe public benefit t rising from the Society. An effort honld bo made to increase tho meraicrship. In the next year, the tenth f the Society’s existence, he hoped lie membership and the interest in :;o Society would bo greater than ever. i., Mr 11. McK. JMofiifeon, in seconding ho motion, said the society should congratulate itself, as there was still i small credit balance in hand. If lie Society could not continue on the irosent membership fee he would avor it being increased. Either that mould ho done or an endeavour made 0 have more special prizes donated, his freeing some of the ordinary unds for other purposes. Mr Arden said it would be a misako to raise the subscription fee. nstead an effort should be made to |et more members at the present rate. Mr Cato suggested that the funds night be improved by appointing a ■anvassing committee, who should mve the duty of getting entries. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The following officers were elected ; ’atrons, Messrs J. IL Time, M.P., i. McCluggage, W. I*. Kirkwood, A. W. Reid, R. Spence, W. H. H. Young, L Masters and G. M. Curtis; presiIcnt, Mr W. H. Besley; vice-presi-lents, Messrs Reader, P. Thomson, iml Morison, and Mesclames Petrie md Prentis; ladies’ committee, Vlisses Besley and Dingle, Mesdamcs VI oon, Petrie, Aagaard, Reader, Alien, Morison, Riera, Preinis, Spence, 1 horn son and H. Masters; general .■ommittee, Messrs T. Reader, A. Spence, R. Morison, F. Davis, Wilde, Don Cameron, S. Reader, Moon, i. Masters, Spilman, Thomson and Vrden; auditor, Mr P. Skoglnnd; •eeretary, Mr W. S. Cato; assistant me rotary, Mr L. Reader.

THE SPUING SHOW. The date for the spring show was Ixed for September 25th. CANVASSING FOR ENTRIES. The chairman said that Mr .Bosley •ad suggested to him that entries for die shows might ho increased if a sub-committee were appointed to canrass for entires. He moved that Messrs Bosley and Tf. Masters ho so elected. Ho (Mr Thomson) felt sure that there wore many people who did mt make entries merely because they were not asked. The motion was carried. THE HAUL QUESTION. Mr Cato >said that as the rent ol the Town Hall was only 10s more than (he Foresters’ Hall he thought the spring show should ho held there. Th light was far from good in the Foresters’ Hall. If six ladies were to decorate tables the Society could fill the Town Hall. It was decided to hold the Show in the Town Hall.