PRESIDENT BRECk's ADDRESS. 89 



Most of the discontinued members are those who have failed to pay their 

 subscriptions, in consequence of change of place, inability, or indifference, 

 and in some instances, perhaps, those who have enlisted in defence of the 

 country, and are now at the seat of war. If there be any of this last class, I 

 trust the Society will continue them members, notwithstanding the non-pay- 

 ment of their subscriptions. 



The only case of expulsion, on record, occurred the last year. It is to be 

 hoped that no case will ever occur again in our Society, where such severity 

 will be necessary ; but acts of such flagrant immorality and crime as were 

 committed by the individual expelled, cannot be passed over in silence. 



The Executive committee have been authorized to make inquiries in rela- 

 tion to any lot of land or estate that may be in market, that can be purchased 

 on favorable terms, which may be suitable for a site to erect a convenient 

 building for the accommodation of the Society. As real estate is somewhat 

 depressed at the present time and may further recede in value, it is thought 

 advisable to be upon the look out for any favorable opportunity for investment 

 that may occur. But as we are at present well accommodated, there is no 

 necessity for any movement, unless there is a prospect of great advantage to 

 the Society. 



The committee on the publication of the History and Transactions of the 

 Society are making progress in that work. They have appointed the Rev. 

 Luther Farnham editor, with whom they have had numerous meetings ; fur- 

 nishing him with much material for the work. The introductory part, with 

 the history of the formation of the Society, is already written ; subject, how- 

 ever, to some revision by the committee. The committee have been some- 

 what embarrassed by the loss of the first volume of the Records of the Society, 

 which has mysteriously disappeared and cannot be found. The loss may not 

 materially impede the progress of the work, as the records of the early trans- 

 actions of the Society were published in the New England Farmer, by Mr. 

 John B. Russell, and afterwards by Mr. Hovey, in his Magazine of Horticul- 

 ture. It is, however, very desirable to have the original records ; and the 

 committee are confident they will yet be found, as they have authorized the 

 Recording Secretary to advertise the loss. 



The importance of this history is more and more apparent to the committee 

 as they look back to the origin of the Society thirty-three years since, and 

 note the small number of persons now living who took part in the formation of 

 the Society, who are able to furnish such facts as are desirable to embody in 

 the work, which, if it had been much longer delayed, would have been lost. 

 The amount appropriated for this object was $1000 ; not any of it has yet 

 been drawn from the treasury. 



The Society appropriated the liberal sum of $1000 to be expended by a 

 committee in procuring the portraits of all the past presidents of the Society, 

 including the present incumbent. The committee discharged that duty to the 

 satisfaction of the Society, within the amount granted, including the framing. 



