Report of the Secretary, 



FOR THE YEAR 1878. 



The work in this department is so similar in its character from 

 5'ear to j^ear, that a report of it for the past year must necessarily 

 be similar to those of previous years. The usual notes have 

 been made of the discussions, after which the}^ have been written 

 out and submitted to the various speakers for revision. The 

 reports, and other matters contained in the Transactions, have 

 been carefully prepared for the press, and superintended while 

 passing through it ; and I have endeavored in every way to co- 

 operate with the Committee on Publication and Discussion in 

 collecting and disseminating such information as would be for the 

 advancement of horticulture. The reports of the weekly and 

 annual exhibitions have been prepared for publication in the " Bos- 

 ton Evening Transcript" as heretofore. To the keeping of the 

 former records of the Society and of the Executive Committee, 

 there has this year been added, by vote of the Society, a record of 

 all the awards made by the Fruit, Flower, and Vegetable Committees. 

 Special attention has been given to sj'stematizing the distribution 

 of the publications of the Society, and keeping an exact record of 

 every copy sent out, both to correspondents and immediate mem- 

 bers, which, it is believed, will result in a more economical per- 

 formance of this work. The revision of the lists of Honorary and 

 Corresponding Members has been continued, but after the most 

 diligent inquiry, and very extensive correspondence in every quarter 

 where it seemed probable that information could be obtained, there 

 are yet more than twenty Honorary and Corresponding Members of 

 whom O'.ilj the names are known. Probably much the larger part 

 of these are now deceased, but until this is certainly known it seems 

 hardly proper to place the star against their names. I would here 

 repeat the request made last year to any persons who may receive 

 our publications, to communicate information for the correction of 

 these lists, or of the lists of the immediate members of the Society. 



