84 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Experience has repeatedly shown, that a well selected library in- 

 creases wonderfully in value, and though this aspect is not one which 

 we wish to prominently present, yet it is well it should not be lost sight 

 of, as an answer to the argument that money spent in books is thrown 

 away. As an illustration, the writer can point to volumes purchased by 

 him while Chairman of the Library Committee, a few years since, 

 which now, would readily bring five times the money they cost, and 

 some of which cannot be procui-ed at any price. 



And this leads us to another consideration. As we have said, the first 

 cost of horticultural books is large, and for this reason only small edi- 

 tions are jjrinted, often only sufficient to supply subscribers, and thus 

 the books are soon out of print, and become very scarce. 



The library of this Society is the proper repository of all such books. 

 There they can be preserved, cared for, used by us in our day, and hand- 

 ed down to coming generations. 



We have now a good nucleus for a Library. "We possess many rare 

 and valuable volumes, but there are, in Boston, private horticultural li- 

 braries larger and finer than that of this Society. We have a good 

 beginning, but our aim must be high : no less than to make our library 

 contain a copy of every published work on Horticulture. This is not 

 the work of a year, or of a decade; a century hence, long after we are 

 laid to rest, it will be incomplete; but we have to remember that our 

 Society, while benefiting us to-day, is not for to-day alone, but for all 

 time, and that while we work together here for mutual advantage, we 

 are also working for future ages, doing our part, be it great or be it 

 small, for the advancement of a science Avhich shall glorify the future, 

 and of which we, perhaps, see but the light before the dawning, the full 

 glory of whose rising, coming ages are to know. 



If any one is incredulous as to th3 deficiencies in our Library, let him 

 merely look over the list of books used by Pritzel in preparing Iconum 

 Botanicarum, which will be foimd on the first pages of that volume; and, 

 remembering that these comprise only illustrated works, see how many 

 of those there mentioned are to be found on the library shelves of the 

 Massachusetts Horticultural Society. 



Your Committee are gratified to be able to report, that the circulation 

 of the Library is steadily increasing, and, during the past year, has 

 reached nearly or quite one thousand volumes. Every facility is oflered 

 for its use, and the value of the services rendered to the Society by Mr. 

 Buswell, as Librarian, cannot be over-estimated. 



The Reading Room has also been in constant use, and is of great 

 practical benefit. 



The Committee have expended nearly the whole appropriation of $500, 

 only a small -balance remaining, which will be needed for binding. They 



