REPORT OF THE SECRETARY AND LIBRARIAN FOR 

 THE YEAR 1909. 



The year 1909 marks the eightieth in the history of the Massachu- 

 setts Horticultural Society. In the eighty years of its experience 

 there appears to have been no period in which it can be said that 

 its work languished for lack of interest in the objects for which it 

 was incorporated. IVIen and women have come upon the stage 

 of its activities and have passed on to be succeeded by others 

 equally devoted, through whose labors and fostering care the work 

 of the Society has been continued without interruption and with 

 unceasing interest and unabated enthusiasm. 



The year just closed has been in some respects a notable one in 

 the Society's history. The twelve exhibitions held, while less in 

 number than for many years, have been without exception of vui- 

 usual merit both in the magnitude of individual displays and in the 

 quality of material exhibited. 



In this connection special mention should be made of the Spring 

 • P^xhibition held in March which was of more than ordinary interest. 

 The presentation of a real Japanese Garden with all its accessories 

 of garden ornaments, growing plants, trees, and shrubs was a 

 feature that attracted so much popular interest that it was necessary 

 to prolong the exhibition a week beyond the scheduled dates. 

 Financially it was the most successful show ever given by the Society, 

 ■while horticulturally its influence has been eciuaily as great and has 

 added much to the prestige of the Society. 



The only exhibitions of previous years with which it could be 

 compared were the Rhododendron Show held by the Society on 

 Boston Common in the year 1873 and the Opening Flower Show 

 of 1901 in the present Horticultural Hall. To these justly famous 

 and well-remembered exhibitions the year 1909 has added another 

 which will go down in the Society's history as a wonderful produc- 

 tion of the gardener's art. 



The Society's Special Diploma and Gold INIedal awarded to 

 the Messrs. Farquhar, were well-deserved acknowledgments of 

 the horticultural skill and artistic ability shown in the construction 



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