1870.] 



President's address. 



the Society and briefly its operations during the past year, leaving the matter 

 of detail for the annual report of the Secretary and Librarian. 



It is always pleasant to speak of our pecuniary condition, whenever we are 

 strong in our own resources, and with a reasonable certainty as to the future ; 

 this is your position to-day. 



Our valuable real estate on Front street gives us an annual income of $3500, 

 after making the necessary reservation of Horticultural Hall and its ante-rooms 

 when required by ourselves. Our whole indebtedness does not exceed $1200, 

 which will undoubtedly be paid during the next year, without affecting our 

 ability to expend increased premiums and make any other desirable improve- 

 .ments. 



The question of the sale by the Society of its real estate has been sometimes 

 agitated, with a view either to ereci another building upon some other location 

 or to make a different investment of the funds of the Society. But the opinion 

 of the committee appointed to consider this matter was that the best interests of 

 the Society would be promoted by retaining the present property, and it seems 

 to me very clear that no better investment could be made of the funds of the 

 Society ; that our own hall and rooms are abundantly sufficient for all ordinary 

 exhibitions and purposes, that tbe only occasion that we have for a larger hall 

 is for this one annual autumnal exhibition, for which we can amply provide 

 by hiring Mechanics Hall, a course I deem far preferable to that of investing 

 our money in the erecting of a new building, embarrassing our future opera- 

 tions, and depriving us of the large income that we can now appropriate to the 

 encouragement of the legitimate objects of the Society. 



The weekly exhibitions were commenced as early as the year 1861. I know 

 of no feature of the Society more worthy of commendation. Their great use- 

 fulness is beyond question. Attended, as they are, by our experienced horti- 

 culturists, they afford to the young cultivator of fruits and flowers an oppor- 

 tunity for information more accessible and correct than can be gained from 

 books. They afford the only opportunity for the display of early fruits and 

 flowers, new varieties of fruits are discussed and tested, all specimens brought 

 in are correctly named, and the conversational discussions in which all are 

 invited to participate, tend to increase the interest of the members in the sub- 

 ject of horticulture. These exhibitions have been continued during the past 

 year, and the display of fruits and flowers, and the attendance of members and 

 strangers has proved their appreciation of their value. For the success of the 

 weekly exhibitions the Society is greatly indebted to the faithful services of the 

 Secretary, who has been constantly in attendance, keeping a full record of all 

 entries, and has weekly furnished a brief statement thereof for publication. 



The value of the large and constantly increasing library of the Society, is not 

 generally knjwn or appreciated by the members. Most all the valuable 

 English and American books on Agriculture and Horticulture, with full sets of 

 journals and magazines on the same subject, are to be found on the shelves in 



