212 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



the gift, the income of the Stickney Fund must be de- 

 voted to the purchase of books for the library, and to 

 no other object whatever ; and the annual appropriation 

 by the Society is not more than sufficient to defray the 

 cost of current periodicals, and necessary expenses for 

 binding. It should be remembered, that while " the 

 money spent in prizes and gratuities for fruits, flowers, 

 and vegetables, is productive of much good, the perma- 

 nent benefit both to individual members and to the 

 Society is but small compared with that derived from 

 a well stocked and carefully selected library ; from that, 

 the benefit is permanent, and continually increasing, 

 reaching all, and continually growing in value." In the 

 words of the chairman of the committee, in the first 

 report after the occupation of the present hall, " Our 

 library may be said to bear to this noble building the 

 relation which the brain bears to the body; and the 

 Society is aware of the importance to its interests of 

 replenishing and invigorating this vital part." 



