REPORT ON DONATIONS AND LEGACIES. 251 



for Estates, and for Rhododendrous, and the Walker fund for 

 Vegetables. 



But the manner of awarding the income is in no case limited , 

 and is entirely within the discretion of the Society. In most cases, 

 however, the desire has been expressed by the donor that the gift 

 should be invested as a permanent fund, the income of which 

 should be expended in prizes. In one instance the request is 

 made that the gift "shall be kept entirely distinct from all other 

 funds of the Societ}' for the specific purpose designated." When 

 the present real estate and building of the Society was obtained, 

 it was thought advisable that the funds of the Society should be 

 applied towards its payments. No one can doubt the permanence 

 or the safety of this investment. But by such disposal these dona- 

 tions become apparently merged with the general funds of the 

 Society, and the annual income therefrom can only be approxi- 

 mately determined. As a result of this commingling, the custom 

 has grown from year to year of awarding prizes from the general 

 fund alone, without specifying in our Schedule of Prizes the vari- 

 ous funds from which the prizes are drawn. In cases where the 

 gifts have been small, and have not been limited, it cannot be 

 expected that separate prizes can be mentioned, yet simple justice 

 to the memory of the donors requires that we should modify our 

 present method of awards. 



It is not doubted that the donations may be legally invested with 

 our other funds in the real estate of the Society, Yet it is 

 evident that the intent of the donors would be more perfectly 

 answered if the amount of their gifts were separately invested, 

 and the annual income, which could then be more definitely' deter- 

 mined, should be distinctly appropriated in prizes and medals. 



Your Committee, therefore, advise the Society to recommend to 

 the Finance Committee the separate investment of such moneys as 

 have been given to the Society as permanent funds ; such separate 

 investment to be made whenever the Finance Committee shall 

 deem that it can be done advantageousl}- . 



Your Committee also recommend that the following words be 

 added to the vote passed April 2d, on motion of Mr. Woodford : 

 " and the names of the donors of the funds from which the prizes 

 are derived be connected with such prizes " — so that the vote as a 

 whole shall read as follows : 



Voted, That the Committee for Establishing Prizes be instructed 



