REPORT 



OF THE 



Secretary and Librarian, 



FOR THE YEAR 1887. 



As in past years, the keeping of various records, making 

 reports of meetings and exhibitions, answering inquiries person- 

 alh' or by correspondence, and preparing the Transactions and 

 other publications for the press, have been the chief duties which 

 I have been called on to perform as Secretary. It is obvious to 

 anyone, upoo the slightest reflection, that the last named of these 

 various duties requires, that it may be performed in the shortest 

 ■time and to the best advantage, such quiet and freedom from 

 inten'uption that the labor shall be continuous, but I regret to say 

 that the interruptions to this and work of similar character have 

 pever been so great as during the year now nearly closed. The 

 came cause has also greatly lessened the suitableness of the 

 Jjibrary Room as a place for the study of our books. 



In my report for 1885, I spoke of the revision of the list of 

 jnemhers, then iji progress. This w.ock was continued during the 

 Bvicceeding year and the results appeared in the second part of 

 the Tbansactions for that year. But after the most diligent 

 jnquiry there remained thirty-eight Life Members whom we were 

 vwhoUy lUnable to trace. Tliese names were maiked in the list of 

 TOcmbers with a dagger, and a more emphatic request than before 

 was njade for information concerning them, but Qn\y a single 

 member responded to this request. 



Tlic unsuccessful attempt to secure a site for a buiicUpg in the 

 Public Garden for the uee .of tlie >Saciety, niScessarUy adckd much 

 to the work of the Secretary. 



The increase in the library by the addiUou through douation 

 and exchange of the repoits of hortiGultuial and agriculiuiral 

 societies, boards of agriculture, agricultijral ,exi>eriment stations, 

 etc., remarked upon last year, still continues, aud these pubUcatio«s 

 form one of the most valuable departments of the library. Most of 



