8 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



I have received a letter, under date of January the ninth, 1920, 

 from Mr. Albert Cameron Burrage, enclosing a check for S1200, 

 made payable to the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, the 

 income of which is to be used for the purpose of promoting the 

 cranberry industry in Massachusetts. The terms upon which this 

 gift was given are as follows : 



" I hereby give the Horticultural Society twelve hundred dollars 

 with the recjuest that its income be used from time to time for the 

 purchase of gold medals to be awarded by the Society to those resi- 

 dents of INIassachusetts, whether priAate individuals or public 

 officials, who, in the judgment of the Trustees of this Society, or of 

 committees appointed b^' them, have during a stated time, either 

 by exliibition of cranberries, or cultivation of the cranberry vine, 

 or scientific research, or technical writings, done the most for this 

 industry." 



]Mr. Burrage has in his greenhouses at Beverlj' Farms, the 

 largest collection of orchids in this country. In view of the great 

 Orchid Exhibition, March 24th to 2Sth, he suggests that 1920 be 

 made a memorable orchid year, and to arouse a still greater interest 

 in orchid culture, IMr. Burrage will show the different orchid plants 

 as they bloom in their season from month to month from January to 

 December throughout the year. He will exhibit a large collection 

 of flowering orchid plants at every scheduled exhibition and also on 

 January 31st, February 28th, April 10th, October 9th and December 

 18th. It is desirable in connection with these exhibitions of orchids 

 that other members of the Society should display interesting plants 

 which will be recognized and rewarded by the Societ\". 



Last year, in looking through our Act of Incorporation, approved 

 June 12, 1829, I found that the Trustees were unable to lay and 

 collect assessments on members of the Society in excess of two 

 dollars per annum. I then urged, and I now urge, that the Trus- 

 tees be gi\en full power to decide from time to time as to what fees 

 are to be levied upon life and annual members which would involve 

 an amendment to our charter. In view of the fact that there is a 

 certain amount of opposition to such a change, the Trustees have 

 decided to do nothing at present. The members of the Society 

 should be willing to pay a larger assessment, which would assist 

 the Societv financialh', and enable us to extend our work. In 



