262 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



and development of this interesting feature of the S})ring Exhibi- 

 tion. 



The Chrysanthemum Show in November proved also of more 

 than the usual interest and in financial results largely exceeded 

 that of the previous year. 



In September, by invitation of the Society, the second annual 

 exhibition of the New England Dahlia Society was held in our 

 halls. It was probably as fine and extensive an exhibition of this 

 popular flower as was ever held in this country. 



In October, the New England Fruit Show held an exhibition 

 lasting six days which also proved successful in every way. It was 

 held in conjunction with the Society's annual fruit exhibition and 

 was instrumental in attracting wide attention to the possibilities 

 of commercial fruit growing in New England. 



The usual course of winter lectures on subjects of horticultural 

 interest was held in January, February, and March and the interest 

 in this department of the Society's work has been fully sustained. 



The publications of the year and the dates of issue are as follows : 



March 2. Schedule of Prizes and Exhibitions. 40 pages. 



April 5. Transactions, 1908, Part 2, pages 147-298, and Plate 2. 



August 31. Transactions, 1909, Part 1, pages 1-152. 



The Library. 



There has not been much out of the usual course in the affairs 

 of the library during the past year to call for any special mention. 

 It is believed that its condition, arrangement, and accessibility are 

 as satisfactory as it is possible to make them and our efforts should 

 now be turned to the supplying of the many desiderata which are 

 necessary to sustain its reputation as a horticultural library. 



As in the past few years, special attention has been given to the 

 accumulation of complete sets of horticultural periodicals not hither- 

 to represented in our collection. Several of these ha^e been added 

 during the year as will be seen in the list of accessions appended to 

 this report. 



The gift by Prof. C. S. Sargent of a large number of American 

 and foreign horticultural trade catalogues and an exchange made 



