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