READING ROOM OPENED. 199 



and their plans for the future. The Society having 

 then a beautiful and convenient room for the library, 

 and the appropriation having been increased to $400, 

 the committee were encouraged not only to make 

 greater additions of standard works than before, but to 

 establish a reading room, supplied with thirteen foreign 

 periodicals and forty-four of the best American horticul- 

 tural and agricultural journals, selected from a large 

 number received in reply to a circular which was sent 

 to the editor of every such journal, requesting a speci- 

 men of his publication. The reading room was opened 

 daily from 10 to 12 A.M., and from 3 to 5 P.M. The 

 committee had carefully examined into the condition of 

 the library ; the books had all been re-arranged in neat 

 and convenient cases, and were an ornament to the new 

 library room; and meetings of the committee, which 

 for sixteen years had been very few, had been held 

 regularly. 



The next year the appropriation was increased to 

 $500, and the committee reported continued improve- 

 ment, and were able to say that the library had reached 

 a position of great usefulness, from which it should 

 never be allowed to fall. The reading room, which a 

 year before could only be considered an experiment, 

 had been of great advantage, and the committee recom- 

 mended that it be considered a permanent institution. 

 An increasing interest had generally been shown, 

 though the committee regretted that there was, on the 

 part of many members, a want of appreciation of the 

 value of a large and well selected horticultural library. 

 Many rare and valuable works had been added, though 

 the amount available for this purpose had been much 

 reduced by the large bills for binding which were neces- 



