REPORT 



OF THE 



Secretary and Librarian, 



FOR THE YEAR 1888. 



The principal difference between the work of the Secretary 

 during the past 3'ear and that of preceding years has arisen from 

 the same gradual growth in the various departments as has been 

 mentioned in previous reports. This increase is perhaps as defi- 

 nitely shown in the Transactions as in any direction. The 

 addition of a few pages annually soon results in a material 

 increase. I wish that I could devise some way by which my 

 whole attention could be devoted to our publications until they 

 were completed, but I fear that this most desirable result is 

 unattainable. On the contrary the interruptions, remarked on in my 

 last report, to the work done in the Library room as well as to the 

 study of the books in our library, have not been less than in the 

 last four years. During that time, I regret to say, the privacy, 

 the quiet, and the dignity of the Library Room have been sadly 

 lowered, from causes entirely beyond the control of the Library 

 Committee or the Librarian. 



The usual number of specimens of fruit have been presented for 

 name, and perhaps as large a proportion as heretofore have been 

 recognized and named at once. Others have been left for further 

 study with the assistance of other experts in pomology, but as 

 remarked four j'ears ago a large part of these are never inquired 

 after again, insomuch that' I have been led to question whether it 

 is worth while, when a fruit cannot be named off hand, to take 

 any further trouble with it. 



In my last report I spoke of the desirability of a card catalogue 

 of the books in the library, and of some of the obstacles in the 

 way of making such a catalogue. The drawers in the new book- 

 case in the smaller room, however, offering a convenient and 



