REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON LIBRARY. 81 



Report of the Committee on the Library, 



FOR THE YEAR 1869. 

 BY FRANCIS PARKMAN, CHAIRMAN. 



The important results of the past year may be briefly summed up. 

 The liberality of Mr. Stickney has greatly increased the purchasing 

 power of the committee, and the visit of Mr. Rand, Sr., to England, 

 gave an opportunity of securing valuable books, too favorable to be 

 neglected. The additions made to the Library since the last Annual 

 Meeting have far exceeded, in number and value, those of any preced- 

 ing year. The most important among them is the superb collection 

 sent home, free of duty and freight, by Mr. Rand. To these are to be 

 added various purchases made in America, and a collection of French 

 works on practical horticulture made by the Chairman in Paris. The 

 accompanying lists will give the titles of all these additions. 



The committee, anxious to avail itself to the full of Mr. Rand's judg- 

 ment and experience, have permitted themselves to exceed the amount 

 of the funds at their disposition. In view of the value of the books, and 

 the moderate price at which they were obtained, it is presumed that the 

 Society will wish to retain them, and will make an appropriation to 

 cover the deficiency. If, however, it should determine otherwise, the 

 books in excess will be taken at cost by a gentleman interested in horti- 

 ctilture, who is anxious to avail himself of this opportunity of adding 

 to his library at far less expense than could be done by other means. 

 The deficiency amounts to $333.26, the total expenditure having been 

 $1,633.26. 



The committee hope that the usual appropriation will be made for the 

 increase of the Library during the ensuing year. 



Additions to the Library. 



books purchased. 

 Ferns, British and Exotic. 8 vols. 

 Ferns, Kew and Rare. 

 British Grasses. 



" Butterflies. 

 Sowerby's English Botany. 9 vols. 

 Bateman's Orchidace«e of Mexico. 

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