REPORT OF THE SECRETARY AND LIBRARIAN FOR 

 THE YEAR 1912. 



In reviewing the work of the Society during the year 1912 the 

 Secretary finds much material of interest worthy of record in this 

 report. 



In addition to the eleven regular exhibitions called for by the 

 Schedule there was held in March a special exhibit representing 

 an Italian garden. It was arranged with wonderful skill by the 

 Messrs. Farquhar and was as successful from a financial point of 

 view as it was from the horticultural. In recognition of this 

 notable achievement of the gardener's art the Special Diploma of 

 the Society, an award made but few times in the Society's history, 

 was voted by the Trustees to Mr. James F. M. Farquhar who 

 designed and arranged the exhibit. 



Appreciative mention should also be made of the annual meeting 

 and exhibition of the Sweet Pea Society of America wdaich was held 

 in connection with the Sweet Pea Exhibition in July and helped 

 to make it of more than the usual interest. 



In September the fifth annual exhibition of the New England 

 Dahlia Society was held in our halls and brought out a creditable 

 display of the popular flower in which the Dahlia Society is espe- 

 cially interested. 



At the Chrysanthemum Show in November there was a notable 

 exhibit of Massachusetts fruits, principally apples, which was a 

 close rival in popular interest to the floral display. The success of 

 this exhibition was largely due to the cooperation of the State 

 Board of Agriculture and the Massachusetts Fruit Growers' 

 Association. 



Another noteworthy exhibition was given in the Society's build- 

 ing in November by the New England Corn Exposition, Inc. Its 

 object was to encourage a more extensive growing of Indian corn 

 and other cereals in this section of the country. 



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