6 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



the thought that new hands must soon take it up and that we should 

 see to it that our performances shall stand the criticisms of those 

 who follow us, with a measure of success equal to that which we 

 have so willingly recognized in our departed leaders. 



The statement of the financial condition of the Societ}", which 

 will be submitted in a new and improved form, is of the same 

 satisfactor}- character as those of the last few years. 



A new system of book-keeping has been introduced, and, in 

 accordance with a vote of the Society, a formal statement of the 

 various funds of the Society, under the names of their respective 

 donors, will hereafter be made. The names of our benefactors 

 have already found their appropriate place on the Prize Schedule 

 for this year. Though these honored names have not, in all cases, 

 appeared upon our prize lists for a number of years, it must not, 

 therefore, be inferred that the income of the respective funds has 

 not been used in substantial accordance with the wishes of the 

 donors. 



The success of our exhibitions, measured by the money receipts, 

 has about equalled that of the preceding year, except in the case 

 of the Annual Exhibition, held in connection with the meeting 

 of the American Pomological Society. For this special occasion 

 large expenses were necessary, and it was understood in advance 

 that the profit to us would not be a pecuniary one. 



The visitors lo our various shows have, apparently, increased 

 steadily in numbers and intelligent interest. The visit of the 

 American Pomological Society to Boston in September last, and 

 the joint exhibition held by the two Societies were noteworthy 

 events. The exhibition was considered by those most competent 

 to judge, one of the most comprehensive and instructive, as 

 regards pomology, ever held b}^ the association. The collections 

 of grapes alone were of a variet}' and excellence seldom, if ever 

 before, shown here. The discussions, covering all branches of 

 pomology, were most instructive, and the personal intercourse 

 with the leading pomologists of the country cannot fail to be of 

 great service to all interested in this important branch of horticul- 

 ture, and was a pleasure, it is scarcely necessary to add, to all the 

 members of this Societ}'. 



The reports of the various standing committees, which have 

 already been presented to you, give evidence of a year of success- 

 ful work largely to be credited to their faithful services. 



