316 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



ascertaining many interesting facts concerning the food 

 of the robin. His reports were published in the Trans- 

 actions of the Society, and gave strong evidence that 

 the general impression that this bird is far more benefi- 

 cial than injurious to the gardener is correct. Later in 

 the year, the Society joined with the Natural History 

 Society in a petition to the Legislature for the pub- 

 lication, at the expense of the State, of a new edition 

 of Dr. Harris's work on Insects Injurious to Vegetation. 



The Society also appointed a committee to take 

 into consideration the distribution of seeds from the 

 Patent Office at Washington. A full report on this 

 subject from the pen of John Lewis Russell, professor 

 of botany, and a member of the committee may be 

 found in the Transactions for 1858. Professor Russell's 

 conclusion was, that, with few exceptions, the seeds dis- 

 tributed from the Patent Office were valueless for culti- 

 vation in this State ; and that, " when we consider the 

 unusual facilities enjoyed by our New England cities, 

 especially those of Massachusetts, for the early introduc- 

 tion of every valuable seed, whether of field or of garden 

 culture, the zeal and enterprise manifested towards our 

 gardens and fields provokes a smile at the ignorance of 

 the friends of agriculture in the want of a considerate 

 regard for our needs or possible necessities in this line 

 of individual or social industry." 



Early in 1858 the Society voted to dispense with the 

 regular weekly shows, and to substitute monthly exhibi- 

 tions, at which a fee should be charged for admission. 

 It was thought that this course might be of advantage, 

 by giving better and fuller displays of both flowers and 

 fruit. It was, however, found to be attended by one 

 disadvantage: the perfection of certain flowers and 



