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Horticulture. — Three free exhibitions took place in the 

 summer, one each in June, July, and August, the fall ex- 

 hibition in September lasting three clays. These exhibi- 

 tions were attended by a fair number of visitors. The 

 collection of fruit and flowers, the latter especially, con- 

 sisted of choicer specimens than were perhaps ever be- 

 fore exhibited at the rooms, showing a more refined taste 

 as well as a greater number of persons interested in Flo- 

 riculture, the collection being from a larger number of 

 exhibitors than at any previous year, not comprised, as 

 often before, of large showy flowers from a few gardens. 

 By very little effort these exhibitions can be brought to 

 far greater notice in the county and made very much 

 larger, and the society might gain from them a yearly 

 profit, in lieu of barely paying their expenses, as they 

 have every convenience for successfully carrying them 

 forward. 



Fair. — During the latter part of October, and the first 

 of November a large fair was held at Mechanic Hall, by 

 the ladies of Salem and vicinity, for the benefit equally of 

 the Salem Oratorio and Essex Institute. It being the 

 opening of the remodelled building, and gotten up with 

 taste, filled with attractive articles, and with many per- 

 suasive ways of raising money, the success was such that 

 each society received upwards of sixteen hundred dollars, 

 a sum greatly needed and gratefully received by the 

 Essex Institute. 



In General we find the society has improved its time 

 by carrying out its objects and adding to its collections. 

 Many minor improvements have been made during the 

 year and everything kept to the previous standard. 

 There are many things which those immediately inter- 

 ested in the society desire to have done, one — which our 

 President has had in his mind and heart for several years 



