154 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETT. 



At the meeting of the Society, August 2, 1873, the Secretary 

 read the following letter : — 



Wellesley, July 28, 1873. 

 W. C. Strong, Esq., 



President Massdchuftetls Horticultural Society : 

 Dear Sir, — On the 2(1 of April last, I addressed you a letter 

 suggesting an exhibition of Rhododendrons, under the auspices of 

 your Society, agreeing to furnishing the requisite plants, and to 

 give you the benefit of any profit after payment of expenses, and 

 guaranteeing you in any event against a loss. 



It is now my pleasure to uive you the result of this exhibitiou, 

 which took place on Boston Common, commencing the Gth, and 

 closing the 26th of Juue, after having been visited, it is estimated, 

 by some 40,000 persons, of whom 25,666 paid an admission fee. 



According to your Treasurer's report, he collected . $7,310 00 

 The expenses have been ..... 5,744 72 



Leaving a profit of ...... Si, 565 28 



Which will no doubt be considered a satisfactory result, as T sup- 

 pose it was not generally expected that the receipts would cover 

 the heavj'^ expenditures. 



I think I can say, and it affords me much satisfaction to be 

 able to do so, that the exhibition has been appreciated by the public, 

 and may be called an entire success in every respect, exciting, by 

 its great attractions, the surprise of many, and the admiration of 

 all those who visited it. While it has thus been the occasion of so 

 much enjoyment to the community, it has, I doubt not, made more 

 apparent the great merits of this class of plants, and will exert a 

 most favoral)le influence in extending their cultivation in this 

 neighborhood. 



In view of these circumstances, it would seem eminentl}'^ proper 

 that this profit should be devoted to the encouragement of the 

 cultivation of Rhotlodcndrons and Hardy Azaleas, and be held 

 separate from the general funds of the Society, the income to be 

 distributed in prizes, under the direction of the Committee on 

 Prizes, in such a manner as may be deemed most advisable. I 

 have accordingly invested SI, 440 in two bonds of the Chicago, 

 Burlington and Quincy Railroad, together $1,500, and enclose a 

 check for the balance, $125.28. 



