ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT WALCOTT. 9 



The continued rise in the value of our real estate has not been 

 accompanied by a proportionate increase in our rentals, and it is 

 more and more evident that we do not derive from our stores and 

 halls all the income we could receive, were the building better 

 adapted to the requirements of business in this vicinity. 



The approaches to the upper hall are not convenient either for the 

 transportation of plants or for the visitors to our shows. The 

 elevator is insufficient for our present needs and cannot be made 

 available except at an expense that does not appear to be war- 

 ranted by the rents received from the halls. 



It is possible that some extensive additions could be made to 

 the building, which would provide more fully for the wants of the 

 Society, and at the same time yield a much larger rental than that 

 now obtained. 



It is the more necessary that this question of profitable and 

 possible changes in the building should be studied fully and delib- 

 erately, because we have at last reached the limit of au}' provision 

 for our library in the rooms now occupied, except b}' the construc- 

 tion of galleries which are objectionable for many reasons. 



Two 3'ears ago I called the attention of the Society to the 

 inestimable advantages offered by the Arnold Arboretum to all 

 students of arboriculture. It seems almost a part of the same 

 broad scheme, when we read the announcement of our honored 

 associate that he is about to undertake the publication of a 

 journal of horticulture, upon a scale at least equal to that of any 

 periodical upon this subject hitherto published. The names of 

 Professor Sargent and his active associates are a sufficient 

 guaranty that the new journal will deserve success, and in obtain- 

 ing it will do much to advance American horticulture to the 

 independent position certain to come with a better knowledge of 

 our own native resources. 



The amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws proposed at 

 the meeting on the 1st of October, and then entered in the 

 records, came up for final action, and it appearing that two-thirds 

 of the members present had not voted in the affirmative, the 

 amendments were declared to be rejected. 



Edward L. Beard moved that a committee of seven be appointed 

 by the President to take charge of the subject of Window Garden- 



