PRESIDENT BRECk's ADDRESS. 91 



improvement, and as we shall receive oar proportion of the amount of sales 

 from the catacombs, the same as in the lots, we shall have to pay our propor- 

 tional part of the cost, whatever that may be. No further sum has yet been 

 called for, from the Trustees of Mount Auburn, for this purpose, and perhaps 

 no more will be wanted this season. 



By deducting the §2000 from the receipts from Mount Auburn of the income 

 of 1860 for these improvements; the sum expended for portraits; the expense 

 of keeping an open library; and two years' bills of the Library committee, 

 which will be found in the Treasurer's account of last year, it will appear 

 that no addition has been made to our available funds. But by adding the 

 French fund of five hundred dollars, and by estimating the library at an ad- 

 vanced value of .500 dollars more, as it will appear in the report of the Finance 

 committee, it will be perceived that our property of all descriptions has ad- 

 vanced in value, short of $1000. But for two years we have not invested a 

 single dollar, unless the expenditures at Mount Auburn may be considered as 

 such. 



A motion has been made, to alter the day of our Weekly Exhibitions from 

 Saturday to Wednesday, and from 2 o'clock to 4 P. M., instead of the usual 

 hours. I hope no such alteration will be made, for in case this were done 

 the By-laws of the Society must necessarily be altered, so that our meetings 

 for business may take place on the same day, or we shall be obliged to meet 

 occasionally twice a week. The course we have pursued from the foundation 

 of the Society without any inconvenience, I think may be safely continued for 

 another third of a century, unless the Society are to be greatly benefited by 

 the change. I believe it will be for the interest and convenience of the Soci- 

 ety to continue to have our exhibitions on Saturday. 



Among other objects of interest which were brought to the notice of the 

 public at our Weekly Exhibitions, during the summer season, were the exten- 

 sive collections of native plants^ correctly labelled with their scientific names. 

 This class of plants belong more appropriately to the province of the Natural 

 History Society, but a knowledge of botany is important, if not necessary, to 

 the horticulturist. Although not very attractive to a majority of visitors, others 

 duly appreciate their value and importance, and would be much gratified to 

 have a continuance of such exhibitions, which should receive suitable encour- 

 agement. 



In consequence of the scarcity of fruit and other considerations, the Annual 

 Exhibition was held in our own hall, with the addition of a large room below 

 for vegetables, and a portion of the library room for grapes. The unrivalled 

 display of vegetables, and magnificent show of grapes ; the collection of 

 beautiful, rare, and curious plants arranged in the centre of the hall ; together 

 with the large masses of cut flowers, compensated in some measure for the 

 profusion of pears, apples, peaches, and other fruits which have on former 

 similar occasions been so prominent. 



