BEPORT 



COMMITTEE ON THE LIBRARY, 



FOR THE YE3AR 1880, 



The affairs of our Library run so much in the same channels 

 from year to j'ear that the Report of this Committee can have 

 little of novelty. We report this year, as usual, that the income 

 of the Stickney Fund has been expended in accordance with the 

 conditions imposed by the giver and that the Society's appropria- 

 tion has gone for periodicals and binding. The amount granted 

 for continuing the Catalogue of Plates will have been expended by 

 the end of the present month ; the progress of the work has been 

 as great as could be expected for the sum allowed. 



In accordance with the practice which has prevailed for several 

 years, our first care has been to procure as many works upon prac- 

 tical details of culture as possible, and, next, to buy the best 

 illustrated works to be had, preferring always colored plates when 

 such could be had, for a glance at a good figure is of more value 

 to one who wishes to know the appearance of a plant, than the 

 most careful description, which, to be of value, must be in tech- 

 nical language. Among the most noteworthy of this class of 

 books, not only for the excellence of the plates but for the great 

 interest of the subject, are the two serials devoted to orchids, the 

 Orchid Album and Lindenia ; which have been regularly received 

 throughout the year. 



• Mr. Maw's monograph of the genus Crocus, and Antoine's 

 serial work on the Bromeliacefe, though dealing with subjects of 

 no commercial importance, will be welcomed by many ; as will also 

 be the many smaller manuals upon special subjects, such as those 

 upon cacti, primroses, clematis, carnations and fuschias. 

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