REPORT OF THE SECRETARY AND LIBRARIAN FOR 

 THE YEAR 1916. 



The Secretary and Librarian presents herewith his fifteenth 

 annual report covering the eighty-sixth year of the Society's 

 history. 



The ten exhibitions of the prgducts of the garden, farm, and 

 orchard held during the year have been, on the whole, creditable 

 to the Society and the public interest in them has been well sus- 

 tained. 



Extensive preparations were made for the Spring Flower Show 

 of March 17-19, but the exhibits were somewhat lessened by the 

 unfavorable weather conditions prevailing that week around 

 Boston, the temperature ranging from 10 to 15° above zero. 



The season during the first half of the year was cold and back- 

 ward necessitating the postponement for a week of the scheduled 

 dates of the Peony and the Rose and Strawberry Exhibitions, the 

 latter occurring July 1 which appears to be the latest date on record 

 for this exhibition. 



The Sweet Pea and Gladiolus Exhibitions though held on the 

 scheduled dates were a week too early for growers in the vicinity 

 of Boston, but owing to large entries from other parts of the coun- 

 try these proved to be very satisfactory, especially the Gladiolus 

 Exhibition which was made of more than the usual interest by the 

 exhibits of the American Gladiolus Society which held its Seventh 

 Annual Exhibition in connection with the Society's show. An 

 immense collection of this popular flower was staged practically 

 filling the three halls of the building. 



The Exhibition of the Products of Children's Gardens held 

 September 2-3 was the largest and best ever held. The interest and 

 enthusiasm of the young gardeners seem to be increasing every year 

 and promise well for the future development of gardening. The 

 committee having this department in charge should receive the 

 Society's most liberal encouragement for it is doing a practical work 

 in advancing the interest in horticulture among the young people. 



225 



