158 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The Annual Exhibition, notwithstanding the extremel}^ hot, dry 

 weather of Summer, and other drawbacks discouraging to the 

 cultivator, was one of which the Society may justly feel proud. 

 It is not necessary to enter into its details here, as they will be 

 found in the full and able reports of the Fruit, Flower, and Vegeta- 

 ble Committees. It was opened on the 19th of September, with an 

 admission fee of twenty-five cents, and was continued four days. 

 The weather was stormy for most of the time, notwithstanding 

 which the attendance was very large, although the receipts were 

 small, amounting to only $450.70, the complimentary tickets 

 having, as usual, been pretty freelj^ distributed to members 

 and such persons as the Committee thought best to send them 

 to. No pains were spared on the part of the Committee to 

 render it attractive ; as proof that they succeeded in doing so, 

 all who attended will attest its having been one of the best 

 arranged and most attractive exhibitions ever held by the Societ}'. 

 We wish the receipts could have been larger, and an interest taken 

 out of the Society, such as has been shown in other cities, where 

 the general public seem to be more appreciative of the labors of 

 the horticulturist than in Boston. One reason for this lack of 

 enthusiasm is, perhaps, our excellent weekly exhibitions, which 

 have always been open to the public free of expense. One 

 would think that these generous ertorts to promote the cause of 

 horticulture, by offering such delightful and interesting displays 

 of Fruits, Flowers, and Vegetables, every Saturday throughout the 

 season, would awaken an interest in the public for the welfare of 

 the Society, livel^^ and deep enough to make it liberal once in the 

 year, thereby cheering the hearts and strengthening the hands of 

 those who have devoted their time and energies to produce exliibi- 

 tions so attractive, and which never fail to reward with pleasure 

 and instruction those who visit them. 



For the Committee, 



C. H. B. BRECK, Chairman. 



