LIBRARY committee's REPORT. 61 



REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE LIBRARY, 



For the Year 1864. 

 BY F. PARKMAN, CHAIRMAN. 



High rates of exchange and consequent high prices have somewhat checked 

 the growth of the library, by preventing foreign purchases, except those of 

 absolute necessity. Additions of value have, however, been made by pur- 

 chases within the country, both of rare and costly works, thrown from time 

 to time on the market, and of others more popular in character. We have 

 continued to receive French and English periodicals regularly, and without 

 payment of duties. 



There has been a marked increase in the use of the library, the number of 

 books taken out being more than one-third greater than during the last year. 

 They have been well used, and punctually returned. 



The Committee regret to state that the June numbers of the Floral Maga- 

 zine, Curtis's Botanical Magazine, and the Florist and Pomologist, were stolen 

 from the table on one of the days of exhibition. Means have been taken to 

 replace them. 



The library of the Society is of unusual value when compared to its extent, 

 consisting in great measure of choice illustrated works. Many of these com- 

 prise numerous volumes, the loss of any one of which would greatly diminish 

 the value of all the others, while in some cases such loss could not possibly 

 be replaced. The Committee, therefore, are of opinion, that no book of this 

 character should be allowed to leave the rooms except by special permission 

 applied for in writing. 



It is to be hoped that, in our new building, our illustrated books will be 

 objects of inspection, not only to members of the Society, but to visitors of 

 the city and others interested in horticulture. The plates, often of high val- 

 ue as objects of art, offer temptations which, as the experience of other libra- 

 ries has shown, are not always resisted. The Committee, therefore, propose 

 to adopt the measure of precaution commonly used in libraries, and stamp 

 each plate with the impress of the Society. A stamp, suited to the purpose, 

 can be made at the price of six dollars, and this can be paid out of the bal- 

 ance of the library appropriation still undrawn. 



The total of expenditure for books, periodicals, and binding, for the year 

 1864, is $410.66. Although the importation of foreign books has been found, 

 for the present, inexpedient, lists have been made of those which have 

 appeared, with a view to purchase at a more favorable time. 



The following are the acquisitions, by purchase, of the past year : — 

 Brookshaw's Pomona Brittanica, 1 vol. fol. 



