REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE LIBRARY. 181 



which few will wish to consult. But it is one of the duties of the 

 Society to have for the use of its members, and through them for 

 the public, volumes with which we do not care to cumber our 

 private libraries. The proper place of such volumes is in our 

 library, and while we should alwa^'s keep a sufficient number of 

 copies of the more common text-books of horticulture, it is not 

 so much the duty of the Society to supply these as to keep for 

 ready reference volumes which from age or high cost are not 

 obtainable by the general public. 



There are very many costly illustrated volumes which are so 

 expensive that few private individuals can possess them, and these 

 should be in our library. We are fortunate in possessing many 

 such, and every year, as occasion offers, more are added. The 

 growth of the library during the last nineteen years, since in 1857 

 the writer first became a member of the Committee, has been 

 remarkable. From a small beginning there has been constant and 

 rapid increase, till now the want of increased accommodation is a 

 serious obstacle to ready reference to many books. This matter 

 must receive early attention from the Society, 



The binding of serial magazines is im^Dortant, as from these 

 the progress of horticulture, and the data so necessary for its 

 history, are most readily obtained. These serials should be so 

 shelved as to be of ready access. 



The Committee would particularly call the attention of the 

 Society to the magnificent copy of Curtis' Flora Londinensis, 

 which was purchased from the library of the late Charles Sprague. 

 For beauty of coloring, fidelity to nature, and elegance of binding, 

 the volumes are most valuable. Beddome's Ferns of British India 

 is a decided acquisition, and is a rare and valuable work upon a 

 most interesting department of horticulture. 



Jennings' and Warner's Orchidaceous Plants, and Bateman's 

 Monograph of Odontoglossum, are most beautifully illustrated 

 volumes, the high cost of which will ever prevent them from 

 becoming common. Lindley's Nature Printed Ferns is a very 

 rare volume, which has long been a desideratum, and at last we 

 are fortunate in obtaining a fine copy. 



The Committee regret that so few works on Pomology are 

 obtainable, but hope to make this department of the library more 

 prominent in the future. 



Of donations, your Committee would call special attention to 



