150 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



loan which may be needed, in addition to its present funds, for the 

 purchase and alteration, or the remodelling of the same. Your 

 committee are also under the impression that the cost of the prop- 

 erty corresponds better with the means of the Society than any 

 other that they have met with, or that might offer itself at present, 

 and is capable of being made commensurate with its growth and 

 necessities for some years to come. And, further, that the estate, 

 situated as it is in a central part of the city, where real estate 

 must always be valuable, cannot be a very bad investment, should 

 the Society hereafter, for any cause, wish to dispose of it." 



The report of the committee was accepted, and a 

 Building Committee was appointed to take charge of 

 the alterations and improvements of the premises pur- 

 chased, who were instructed also to apply to the Gen- 

 eral Court for further powers to hold real estate. 

 The President, in connection with the Finance Com- 

 mitee, was authorized to borrow in the name of the 

 Society, any amount not exceeding fifteen thousand 

 dollars, to enable the Society to complete the purchase. 

 Architects were immediately employed to draw plans, 

 and make estimates, for the alteration of the building 

 so as to adapt it to the use of the Society ; but it was 

 finally decided to erect a new building. 



At the meeting of the Society on the 14th of Sep- 

 tember, the chairman, in behalf of the Building Com- 

 mittee, presented a silver plate to be placed under the 

 corner stone of the Society's new hall, with certain doc- 

 uments. It was then voted to adjourn to the site of 

 the new building, and that the president be requested 

 to perform the duty of laying the corner stone, depos- 

 iting the plate, documents, etc., and to offer such 

 remarks as he might deem suitable to the occasion. 



The plate was of silver, six by eight inches, and bore 

 the following inscriptions : 



