ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT MOORE. 7 



A polic}' of liberal premiums, so far as may be warranted by a 

 prudent regard for the condition of the Society's finances, is the 

 true course to adopt to secure the most successful exhibitions. 



With this liberal inducement in the increase of premiums, let 

 our cultivators of flowers, fruits, and vegetables remember that 

 soon this cold winter will have passed and spring will liave come ; 

 let us all be prepared in time to take full advantage of the seasons, 

 and bring to our halls the rarest and best products of our skill, 

 and, by such united efforts on the part of all, make our displays 

 better than any we have ever had. And let each of our members 

 realize the importance of his individual contribution ; for it is their 

 aggregated aid that makes our large displays. 



We have, so far as horticulture is concerned, one of the most 

 extensive and best libraries in this country. The privilege of its 

 use is of much more value to an}' person seeking information in 

 regard to plants, fruits, flowers, and vegetables, than the cost of 

 membership in the Society ; and those who love rural life, who ad- 

 mire plants and flowers for their beaut^', who desire to grow the 

 luscious fruits which ripen so well under our bright sunshine, who 

 look with wonder and respect upon the noble trees that adorn our 

 streets and pleasure grounds, many of them of much more than a 

 century's duration, can well consult the books on these shelves for 

 information as to what, when, and how to plant to produce the 

 most favorable results. 



But, though we have one of the best libraries, I could wish that 

 the accommodations for the books were more commensurate with 

 their value. The Chairman of the Committee on the Library', in 

 his report, again asks for more room for the large accumulation of 

 books for which we have no adequate provision, and suggests, as a 

 remedy for this, that we build a galler}' around this room, fitted 

 with cases. By the report of the Secretary and Librarian we are 

 informed that there have been added to the librar}-, since the year 

 1878, 1,400 books and 750 pamphlets, many of them rare and of 

 great value. Some books of the least value are stored in other 

 rooms in this building, and many of the slielves in the book cases 

 in this room contain double rows of books. This is an important 

 matter, and the request of the Library Committee should be con- 

 sidered and prompt action taken. 



The Secretary-, who is also Librarian, has attended to his duties 

 in that careful and correct manner for which he is noted. Frequent 

 calls upon his time for information relating to the library, identifi- 



