1864.] secretary's report. 79 



June 25 to September 3, on which the Library was open, and with the charm 

 of novelty dispelled, the entries in that class numbered four hundred and forty, 

 of which at least one-third consisted of out-door, hardy Roses. The ability of 

 the Society to maintain the Summer Exhibitions was thus amply established 

 by the liberality of individuals. The wisdom of those members who first sug- 

 gested the attempt is completely vindicated. Nor does it reflect discredit upon 

 the Society that the success of the Summer Exhibitions in their Floral Depart- 

 ment is mainly attributable to the tender of pecuniary remuneration. The 

 opportunity of contributing, without fee or hope of reward, is refused to none. 

 That it is improved by many argues well for their public spirit. Yet the 

 "laborer" will ever be "worthy of his hire," whether it assume the form of a 

 laurel-crown in classic Greece, of thanks and medals in a Republican Congress, 

 or of the more humble premium bestowed by friends and neighbors associated 

 in a common pursuit. That this view meets with the public sanction is mani- 

 fest from the signal success of those exhibitions. For the people, who have a 

 way of absenting themselves from scenes that they would discountenance, invig- 

 orated our struggling enterprise with the vital encouragement of their presence. 

 The room devoted to the exhibition was thronged on each succeeding Thurs- 

 day. The ladies especially evinced an interest in these displays, which was 

 alike cheering for the present, and indicative for the future. For it demon- 

 strated what many of our enthusiastic pomologists are too much disposed to 

 overlook, but which was manifested beyond cavil at the Annual Exhibition, 

 that Flora and not Pomona, is the goddess of female idolatry, and that it 

 is to the devotees of the former that the Society must chiefly look to replenish 

 its resources and promote its objects. The seasons are not always so propi- 

 tious. But increased encouragement would lead to greater effort in the coun- 

 teraction of unfavorable influences, and perhaps result in the achievement, 

 every year, of as fine a floral display as that which opened on the loth of last 

 September. We have nursed the Pear until it would be hard to find collec- 

 tions of that fruit superior to those grown by our citizens, unhappily not always 

 members of our Society. We have transferred our Library to its present loca- 

 tion, and held weekly meetings for the display of specimens for mutual instruc- 

 tion ; and our reward is apparent in the present healthy and vigorous condition 

 of the corporation. We contributed a fund for Summer Exhibitions, and our 

 recompense is found in the development of public taste, the awakened interest 

 of the ladies, and unprecedented augmentation of our list of members. The 

 question for us now to decide would seem to be, whether we shall cramp the 

 usefulness of the Society by grudging the expenditure of every dollar that is 

 diverted from the diminution of its liabilities, or, profiting by the experience of 

 the two years just past, we shall strive in all possible ways to ^^ advance the 

 science and ericowage and improve the practice of horticulture.^'' In other, 

 plainer, and precise terms : shall this Society continue to exist for the reduc- 

 tion of debt as its chief object, or for the objects specified in its charter ? It 

 is not likely, should the present interest be allowed to subside, that another 

 future effort for its revival will be attended with greater if equal good fortune. 



