REPORT OF THE SECRETARY AND LIBRARIAN FOR 

 THE YEAR 1918. 



The year 1918 has brought a break in the customary activities 

 of the Society, particularly in its exhibitions. War conditions, the 

 shortage of coal and consequent closing of many private green- 

 houses, have operated so unfavorably that with one or two excep- 

 tions the exhibitions have fallen far below the usual high standard 

 of the Society. The elimination of money prizes from the Schedule 

 has also had a discouraging effect upon the exhibitors. 



These conditions, however, have been offset in large measure by 

 the adoption of other methods for maintaining the usefulness of 

 the Society. 



The importance of an increased food production throughout 

 the country was recognized early in the year and a plan was adopted 

 by the Trustees to assist in this desirable work. It took the form 

 of a course of practical instruction in vegetable gardening. A plot 

 of earth was brought in to one of the halls and a professional 

 gardener was engaged from May to August, inclusive, to give 

 daily instruction in the best methods of planting seed, transplant- 

 ing, fertilizing, control of insect pests, and other necessary informa- 

 tion for successful vegetable growing. Special public meetings 

 were held 'also on two evenings during the week when a number 

 of expert gardeners, interested in the plan, contributed their 

 services and their experience by presenting the best practical 

 advice for obtaining results in the vegetable garden. 



This course of instruction was freely offered to the public and 

 the results were highly satisfactory and placed the Society in the 

 line of usefulness to the Government in the trying days of the war. 

 The success of this work suggests also the desirability of the 

 Societ}^ engaging in further efforts in this direction, especially in 

 the line of amateur home vegetable gardening. 



In addition to this endeavor on the part of the Society to increase 

 its usefulness the halls of its building were freely placed at the 



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