418 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



aim to add to the library every practical work which may properly 

 circulate among our members, this is not the most important part 

 of the mission of the Library ; its greatest value is not as a 

 circulating, but as a reference library. And it should not be 

 forgotten that we are not collecting these books for today or 

 tomorrow, or for this year or next year, but, so far as we can 

 foresee, for all time. There are now on our shelves books which 

 have survived the many migrations of the Society from one hired 

 room to another, and the building and demolition of its first hall. 

 It is probable, and it is certainly to be hoped, that the unrivalled 

 and invaluable collection of books, frail and perishable as they 

 may appear, will outlast the solid building in which we are now 

 assembled, and perhaps more than one successor. 



Looking at this collection of books from a point of view no 

 higher than the pecuniary one, a well selected library is one of the 

 best investments of money that can be made. The demand for 

 the class of books which are especially sought after for this library 

 has increased rapidly within a few years past, and is still increas- 

 ing, and the probability is that before many years they Avill be 

 absorbed by libraries like our own, from which they will not be 

 likely soon to come into the market again, if they ever do. If 

 there is one here who is disposed to look at this subject only from 

 the pecuniary point of view, he may be interested to know that 

 we have a copy of the Pinetum Woburnense, of which an edition 

 of one hundred copies only, with exquisite colored plates, was 

 printed by the Duke of Bedford for presentation to his friends. 

 It is not strange that when a copy of such a book comes into the 

 market it brings a high price. Ours was bought in 1877, for 

 eighteen guineas, which, as gold was then at a premium, was 

 probably at least $100, and was then regarded by some as an 

 extravagant purchase. Yet during the present year a copy has 

 been sold for £140, say $700. 



Under the continued increased appropriation for periodicals, 

 binding, etc., preparation of books for the binder has been carried 

 on, and has formed a considerable, and important part of the work 

 done h^re, and we have been able to bind some, which, owing to 

 lack of funds, had in previous years fallen into arrears. 



ROBERT MANNING, 



Secretary and Librarian. 



