LIBRARY committee's REPORT. 83 



EEPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE LIBRARY, 



For the Year 1868. 

 by edward s. rand, jr., chairman. 



The value of a Avell- selected library to the horticulturist cannot be 

 over-estimated. From books he reads the record of the failure and suc- 

 cess of others, and by means of these charts he is enabled more certainly 

 to hold his course to the wished-for jDort. But even a small horticultu- 

 ral library is an expensive luxury, in which very few can aftbrd to 

 indulge. 



As a rule, scientific books are very expensive, and in this the science 

 of Horticulture otTers no exception. 



The cost of a single illustrated volume may be a hundred dollars, and 

 full sets are still more costly. And here we touch upon one of tlie groat 

 missions of our Society, which, formerly neglected, even now, we fear, 

 is not fully appreciated. 



To give each member access to a complete horticultural librarj' is 

 one of the duties which, as a Society, we are called upon to perform. 

 Individually we cannot have such a library; its cost would exceed our 

 means, even before its bulk outgrew 'the accommodations of a private 

 house; but, as a Society, we can have it, and thus each member can, 

 individually, have the use of it, and be a quasi proprietor. 



Again, in Horticulture there are many thousands of volumes which 

 are only useful for occasional reference. With these we would not cum- 

 ber the shelves of a private library, but such works would find their 

 proper resting place in the library of our Society. Here they would 

 be accessible to all, reference would be easy, and the advantage derived 

 from such consultation by members would be incalculable. 



We know there is a class in the community who would sneeringly say, 

 " What is the use of such a lot of books? It is throwing away money." 

 Thank Heaven, those who hold such sentiments are becoming fewer 

 each year. What is the use of books? rather, how are they not useful? 

 They are for reference, for study, for pleasure, for profit, for informa- 

 tion, for assistance in the practice of horticultural science, and in the 

 case of illustrated works, for elevating the mind to a perception of nat- 

 ure's beauties, and affording to all a sight of the wonders of floral life, 

 which, perhaps, only the wealthy can indulge in the living examples. 



" Throwing away money! " Rather making a most profitable invest- 

 ment. Looking only at the purchase of a library, in a pecuniary point 

 of view, the lowest manner in which it can be regarded, it is money 

 invested at compound interest. 



