12 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



the Secretary can issue them, which is not always possible until 

 after considerable correspondence. Our publications should not 

 be delayed for these two latter. The Secretary is required to 

 keep copies of correspondence, but the custom of copying by hand 

 can well be replaced by the use of the letter-press, and meet the 

 constitutional requirement. The adoption of the modern method 

 of shorthand and typewriting, by an assistant, would seem to 

 promote both correspondence and copying, and leave more time 

 for other necessary work. 



The Librarian controls the Library under the Library Commit- 

 tee, and all directions should go through him as to all Library 

 matters, in the same manner as is the case of our Superintendent 

 controlling the building under the Finance Committee. 



I believe that a system of Bulletins in place of our Transac- 

 tions might be found more beneficial ; and these could be placed 

 upon our tables, or mailed to those who should have requested 

 that such be done. There would then be no unreasonable delay 

 in having useful information reach our horticulturists in good 

 season. 



I ask the Committee on that subject to consider even a further 

 reduction of the number of lectures, if that Avill secure the pres- 

 entation of all in better form for the printer, from a financial 

 standpoint. It has been suggested to me that semi-monthly lect- 

 ures might be desirable. I consider that the Committee have full 

 power to establish the number of lectures, and publish such as 

 they may select, whether they shall be issued in Bulletin form or 

 in the present form of Transactions. 



I believe that it has been in past years a custom Avith the So- 

 ciety to offer prizes for Essays upon subjects to be given by the 

 Committee, and such a method is named in our Constitution. A 

 change to that form of secviring lectures might prove of value, by 

 promoting increased interest. 



I submit these thoughts for consideration by the appropriate 

 Committee. 



The safety of our Library now lies in insurance, and not in the 

 building which houses it. ISTo library of such value as ours now 

 possesses, could have been deemed possible when this building 

 was erected ; if it had, the library room would probably have been 

 constructed in 1865 in a manner different from a purely commer- 

 cial building. 



