322 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



double the labor in collating the books, in looking out for the 

 completion of series, in recording, iu cataloguing, and in all that 

 is required before they can be placed on the shelves ready for use 

 by the members of the Society here and in their homes. Under 

 the ideal administration this should be done as speedily as pos- 

 sible. It would seem that with proper facilities it should be 

 effected, on the average, in a week after the books are received, 

 but this has been found impossible, for two reasons, — first, the 

 force employed is entirely insuflicient, being no greater than 

 before the extraordinary increase in rapidity of growth of the 

 Library ; and, second, the shelves are entirely inadequate to con- 

 tain the books. From these two causes the work on the Library 

 is continually hampered and embarrassed. We need not be 

 surprised at the rapid increase of horticultural literature, for while 

 research and publication in every other department of science and 

 knowledge is more active than ever before, it would be strange if 

 botany and horticulture should form an exception to this activity. 

 It is not intended to question the statement of the Committee 

 having in charge the provision of better accommodations for the 

 Society that every effort within reason has been made, but on the 

 contrary the difficulties in the way when this report was made, as 

 well as those which have occurred since, are fully recognized. 

 But it is submitted, with entire confidence, that uutil that time in 

 the indefinite future, when adequate provision for all our needs 

 shall have been made, it is absolutely necessary that some tempor- 

 ary provision be made for the bestowal of our books. If any 

 proof of this statement is desired a glance around this room will 

 supply it. 



In this connection I wish to say that I have heard with much 

 regret that members of the Society have been deterred by the 

 crowded state of the Li])rary Room from attempting to use the 

 books when they desired. I hope that no one will be deterred 

 by this or any other cause from asking for any book that he wishes 

 to read or consult, in the assurance that if we cannot do for him 

 all that he could wish, all those employed in the room will do 

 evei'ythiug in their power to facilitate his researches. 



In former years, when both halls have been leased, this room 

 has been the only resource in case of a Saturday exhibition of 

 horticultural products. This contingency has not occurred for 

 some time, but it is liable to occur again, and it is desirable to be 



