1865.] secretary's report. 101 



of a moment's hesitation, to more than double onr entire ranks. With their 

 co-operation and by the reduction of debt consequent thereupon, how much 

 wider would be our field for usefulness ? The eloquence of Beeeher, so recently 

 lavished upon this and cognate themes, cannot have been wholly wasted. May 

 we not look for its fruits in the increment of our Society, in its augmented 

 activity, and in the advantages of precept and practical example enuring 

 therefrom to the entire community? 



The system of Summer Exhibitions of Flowers and Fruit, so successfully 

 instituted in 1863, has been continued throughout the year past. Notwith- 

 standing the offer' and award of liberal premiums, a considerable sum remains 

 unexpended, from the fund obtained by subscription, which will be applicable 

 to similar purposes in 1865. Nor can it be doubted that all reasonable antici- 

 pations of the subscribers to that fund must have been fully realized, when the 

 numerous entries of luscious Fruits and lovely Flowers are recalled, with the 

 generous attendance that almost invariably greeted their exhibition with due 

 appreciation. An unusual proportion of the addition to our members consists 

 of the fairer sex. It is believed that this fact may be accounted for upon the 

 theory that a natural taste for Floriculture, fostered by our public displays, 

 sought, and will continue to seek new room for develoj)ment in the facilities and 

 encouragement afforded by our Society. 



At the first meeting of the Trustees, in the past year, the sum of fifty dollars 

 ($50.00) was appropriated, to be expended under the direction of the Commit- 

 tee of Arrangements in premiums for such Fruits, fully ripe, exhibited subse- 

 quent to the Annual Exhibition, as should be deemed worthy of an award by a 

 competent Committee. Although an experiment, it is vindicated by success. 

 True, the number of entries has not been very large, but the quality of the 

 specimens submitted, in an exceedingly unpropitious season, more than supplied 

 any deficiency in the aggregate. Many Fruits, both Apples and Pears, are 

 placed upon our tables at the Annual Autumnal Exhibition, before they have 

 attained maturity. Quite a variety of these have been exhibited and carefully 

 tested, during the latter months of the past year, and much valuable informa- 

 tion was thus gathered and disseminated. A larger attendance of the mem- 

 bers, upon such occasions would, of course, tend to a wider diffusion of the 

 resultant benefits. 



A remarkable circumstance should be mentioned in this connection, that, 

 although their bearing year, not a solitary plate of Baldwin Apples has been 

 offered since the Annual Exhibition, whether for display or premium. 



The Secretary has not deemed it essential for the purposes of this report, to 

 discriminate between the entries at the exhibitions held at the weekly meetings 

 in the spring, those under the stimulus of the subscription fund, and the later 

 ones which were influenced by the appropriation from the Treasury, under the 

 vote of the Trustees. He esteems it all sufficient to continue the comparative 

 table, showing the relative entries of Flowers, Fruit, &c., for the whole series 

 of years during which this system of Weekly Exhibitions has been maintained : 

 14 



