ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT HENRY P. WALCOTT. 9 



iu this direction, Dotwithstanding a general interest on the part of 

 the public, owed much of their vitality to the untiring, unselfish 

 work of the late Elizur Wright. It is to be hoped that some one 

 may succeed to his place, able as he to attract the attention of the 

 public, and equally willing to make some sacrifices for the general 

 good. Whatever help the influence of this Society can give will, I 

 doubt not, be lent to a plan that offers, not to this generation 

 alone but for all time, the educational advantages of a great wild 

 garden, unequalled in extent or variety. The second subject 

 treated is fortunately a fact accomplished, — the Arnold Ar- 

 boretum, — endowed bj^ an Honorary Member of this Society ; car- 

 ried to its present stage of success and abundant promise for the 

 future, through many and perplexing difficulties, by our honored 

 associate, Professor Charles S. Sargent. 



The treasures of this collection, already known to a few, can 

 only be properly appreciated when the Director's plans for final 

 planting are fully carried out ; but the advantages of a collection 

 of trees and shrubs, hardy in this climate and correctly named, 

 have alread}' been felt. 



The Library Committee and the Librarian report a continued 

 increase in the number of our books, in the use made of them, and 

 in the facilities offered for their use — but also the old and well- 

 grounded complaint of insufficient shelf accommodation. 



A member of this Committee until the present year, I heartily 

 agree to all that is said in this and preceding reports, and will 

 again call your attention to a few points that appear to have occu- 

 pied the minds of some of our members during the past year. The 

 great value of this collection of books is admitted ; it is the best 

 horticultural library in this country, and I know of none in Europe 

 to equal it, either in the possession of a society, or of a private 

 individual ; it is a collection rich, not alone in books of scientific or 

 literary value, but in all that can be found of a distinctly practi- 

 cal character. The Chairman of the Committee, probably more 

 familiar with the contents of these shelves than any other member 

 except our Librarian, has made a practice of consulting book- 

 notices, catalogues, and advertisements ; from the titles thus col- 

 lected the Committee has made selection, for immediate purchase, 

 of those books most likely to meet the general want. The more 

 valuable works of a scientific character, including Floras, and Re- 

 ports of learned Societies, have been purchased as occasion offered 



