1870.] SEdRETARY*S KEPOR*. 2S 



specimen of fruit or vegetable. If any specimen has obtained a premium in a collec- 

 tion, it shall not be credited to the same person in a smaller collection, nor as a single 

 specimen ,• nor shall any premium be awarded to a single variety, unless the specimens 

 are equal to those of the same variety which may be included in any of the collections. 



A substitution of the word "variety" for "specimen," wherever it occurs in 

 the first clause, and in the first sentence of the second, will enable you to com 

 prebend the construction of the rule most widely upheld and which was 

 practically enforced at the recent Exhibition. 



The Library is in its customary good condition. As will be observed from 

 the usual tabular statement, the volumes have continued to circulate widely, 

 and have been employed (in a way not so susceptible of demonstration) more 

 frequently than in past years, for purposes of reference. It is not probable 

 that many occasions will arise requiring large expenditure. The terrible ca- 

 lamities that have befallen the fair land of France may even prevent the further 

 publication of those elegant serial works which constitute so much of the value 

 of our collection. At the same time, the Society is happily able, and should 

 be disposed readily, to place upon its shelves any new volumes, or later and 

 better editions of the old ones, of which the possession may be desirable but 

 whose cost may be too onerous for private resources. 



The usual comparative table is appended, to indicate the annual circulation : 



Vols. 



In 1862 114 



In 1863 133 



In 1864 179 



In 1865 318 



In 1866 387 



In 1867 470 



In 1868 , 580 



In 1869 510 



In 1870 544 



The whole number of separate volumes acquired during the past official j-ear, 

 whether by purchase or donation, amounts to forty. A list of them with their 

 titles is herewith presented : 



Transactions of the Illinois Horticultural Society, 1868 ; 1 vol. octavo. 

 From W. C. Flagg. 



Transactions of the Worcester Agricultural Society, 1868 ; pamphlet. From 

 C. M. Miles. 



Transactions of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, 1869 ; pamphlet. 

 From E. W. Buswell. 



Transactions of the American Pomological Society, 12th Session; pamphlet. 

 From Hon. Marshall P. Wilder. 



