REPORT 



OF THE 



SECRETARY AND LIBRARIAN, 



FOR THE YEAR 1894. 



No two years' work in these departments are precisely alike, 

 and yet that of one year is so similar to that of another that it is 

 difficult to report the work of one without substantially repeating 

 othei' reports. As to the publications, the Schedule of Prizes, 

 and the weekly reports of the Meetings for Discussion, have been 

 promptl}' placed before the Society. The Transactions have been 

 delayed by circumstances entirely beyond my control. 



The various records, including, besides the meetings of the 

 Society, those of the Executive Committee, Library Committee, 

 Committee of Arrangements, copies of all records of awards of 

 Prizes and Gratuities, and the several records of Library Acces- 

 sions required, have been fully kept. The continually increasing 

 correspondence has also received the best attention possible. 



The number of specimens of fruit presented for name has been 

 larger than for several years past, and I regret to be obliged to 

 repeat — what I have more than once before stated — that a 

 majority of those who have left fruits here for study and examin- 

 ation by other experts, have not thought it worth while to take the 

 trouble to inquire the results of such examination. 



One of the most important events in the history of the Library 

 the present year, is the gift, by the family of our late honored and 

 respected Ex-President, Hon. Marshall P. Wilder, of a large number 

 of horticultural and agricultural books, which, when arranged and 

 catalogued, will add much to the value of the Library. As it has 

 been impossible thus far to catalogue and arrange them, this gen- 

 eral acknowledgment must suflice for the present. Another gift 

 which should not pass unnoticed consists of a large number of 

 seed and nursery catalogues, from Edgar Sanders of Chicago, 



