374 • MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



coming publications, in which the list Avill reappear, it is earnestly 

 requested that all members will carefully examine it and report to 

 the Secretary such changes as may be found necessary. 



Notice has been given, by circulars addressed to all the members 

 not known to be supplied, that copies of the otticial History of the 

 Society, published in 1880, may be had by any desii-ing them. It 

 was in addressing these circulars that the urgent necessity for a 

 revision of the list became apparent. The purely incidental way 

 in which this task of reviewing the record of membership has 

 arisen and grown into a pressing dut}^ of consideralile magnitude 

 is very suggestive. It is typical of many other demands upon 

 the Secretary, created by a variety of other subjects. 



These it would be tedious to enlarge upon. They originate 

 from the character of his ottice as the natural executive channel 

 for a variety of matters arising in the ordinary working of the 

 Society, or in the maintenance of its relations to the public, and 

 to sister societies. To state tliem in a manner at once concise and 

 comprehensive is probably impossible ; they are here l)arely 

 alluded to with a confident ))elief that, to all who give the matter 

 reflection, a further discussion would be superfluous. 



The literary work, like the routine business, can scarcely be 

 detailed — only outlined; but being put into a visilfle form, it 

 may be said, in a manner, to speak for itself. 



It is a gratifying circumstance that, owing to the valuable aid 

 opportunely extended early in the year, in providing the services of 

 an able general assistant in the Secretary's oflrtce, employed in this 

 and other departments of its manifold duties, the Society's Trans- 

 actions and other publications are fully brought out up to date. 



It is a further gratification to remark the fact, — due, of course, 

 chiefly to the intrinsic value of the essays and discussions, but 

 perhaps also in some important degree to the care bestowed in 

 their preparation for the press, — that there has l)een an evidently 

 increased consideration accorded to them, both among meml)ers 

 of the Society and the general public. P^xtracts, in greater number 

 and at greater length than in previous years, have been repub- 

 lished in the columns of leading journals both at home and 

 abroad. 



In the last report of the Secretary, mention was made of some 

 inquiries as to the aid afforded by various States for the advance- 



