1874. J KKPORT OP SECRETARY. 57 



the first day of April, at which time the renovation of the Hall was com- 

 menced. But in relinquishing the trust so long committed to him, the 

 writer may be pardoned if he seeks to impress you with a more profound 

 sense of the absolute importance to the well-being and growth of the 

 Society, that the Library should be kept easiJ}' and constantly accessible 

 Our weekly meetings owe their origin to the perception of this need, and 

 their permanence, so indispensable to our continued prosperity, can be 

 secured in no other way. This Hall of Flora should be an attractive 

 and comfoi table place of resort for our members, to which they may come 

 at any hour, with a reasonable assurance of finding books or magazines 

 handy for consultation. Such accommodation is especially due to those 

 of our associates who dwell in the towns of the County, whose occasions 

 for visiting this City are uncertain and impossible of subjection to any 

 fixed rule. The use of our Library is far too restricted at best. Let it 

 not be our reproach that we accumulate knowledge but to seal it up 

 hermetically. 



The interest in Floriculture, so decidedly manifested in 1878, was plainly 

 shown throughout the past summer. The offer of premiums for contri- 

 butions by amateurs has been continued to common advantage. The fail* 

 grower of Flowers or Plants gets some compensation, slight enough it is 

 true, for her trouble, while the public, or so many as take the pains to 

 attend, have an opportunity of witnessing the results of combined skill 

 and taste that would not be available otherwise. A marked advance was 

 evident in the construction of Floral Designs, at the September Exhibi- 

 tion particularly. In this class, although many are content to display the 

 merest patchwork, a larger number have set for themselves a high stand- 

 ard of excellence. All that can be done to stimulate ambition and foster 

 effort in the Floral Department should be sanctioned with the warmest 

 heartiness. The worship of Flora does not, it is too sadly true, exempt 

 her devotees from the infiuence of envy and ungenerous feeling. But 

 malice and all uncharitableness are not necessary attendants upon the 

 love for beautiful things, and we can afford to watch and wait for that 

 growth in grace which will be sure to ensue upon development in 

 nature. 



The interruption to our weekl}- meetings, caused by the work of altera- 

 tion in our Halls, was somewhat prejudicial to the success of the Sum- 

 mer Exhibitions. The habit of attending them is easily lost in the hurry 

 and bustle of life. Kevertheless, thanks to the zeal of those whose 

 interest never flags, there was almost invariably something to repay study 

 and invite examination. Upon the 19th of March a display was inaugu- 

 gurated for the first time in the vernal season of Azaleas, Primroses, and 

 8 



