130 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Proprietors of Mount Auburn, it was agreed that the 

 latter should annually pay to the former one fourth part 

 of the proceeds of sales of lots, after deducting $1,400 

 for expenses. The amount received by the Society 

 under this arrangement has averaged about $3,700 

 annually. 



The largest item in the income of the Society is from 

 the rent of the stores under its halls, and of the halls 

 themselves when not needed for horticultural exhibi- 

 tions. It was not, "however, until the erection of the 

 present hall that this item became so important ; the 

 largest rent ever received from the School Street prop- 

 erty, including the estate owned by the Society in the 

 rear of the haU, having been $2,947.50 in 1858. The 

 total amount received by the Society on account of rent 

 of stores and halls is about $307,000. 



The Society would never have attained its present 

 financial position, had not its affairs from its organiza- 

 tion been economically administered, and its surplus 

 funds carefully invested; the first investment having 

 been made January 16, 1835. At the meeting on the 

 7th of October, 1837, it was "Voted, That the Commit- 

 tee of Finance be directed, whenever there be $200 on 

 hand, and not wanted for immediate use, to have the 

 same invested in such permanent stocks as they may 

 think best." Although the letter of this vote may not 

 always have been followed, the general policy indicated 

 has been steadily pursued, the stocks having been ulti- 

 mately sold to provide funds for the erection of the 

 Society's halls. The income received by the Society in 

 the form of dividends and interest has reached the total 

 amount of $40,000 ; and so well have the investments 

 been chosen, that no loss has been sustained on any of 



