ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT APPLETON. 15 



1 Avould commend the subject of useful and injurious birds, 

 useful and injurious insects, the value of water in connection 

 with the fertility of our soils, the general subject of Botany, the 

 usefulness of books on these subjects in our schools as cultivat- 

 ing the powers of observation, and the value of appropriately 

 planted school yards, and home windows — all these, as worthy 

 of promotion by the Society. 



All these subjects are greatly promoted by volunteer work. 



It is wise to make known to our members, and the public, 

 methods to prevent the spread of all injurious pests, and Avliich 

 will cause their destruction, so that such injuries shall not be 

 allowed to multiply to such an extent as to become in any case 

 public nuisances. 



Intelligence of the individual should prevent the necessity of 

 calling for Government aid, by not allowing extreme cases to 

 exist. 



Our Experiment Stations are established to help in this direc- 

 tion, and are now well equipped. They have issued carefully 

 prepared Bulletins for this purpose, and it is extraordinary how 

 little heed is too often paid to the valuable advice contained 

 therein. Even this city has not been exempt from this criticism 

 lately. 



Let us remember the true motto, that prevention is always 

 better than cure. 



Should it be decided to sell our building, we should endeavor 

 to secure as convenient a location as possible, tliat we can grow 

 up to, and where our hall shall be made accessible for the largest 

 plauts possible of exhibition, with convenient anterooms for our 

 purpose, with fire-proof, and suitable, enclosure for, and that 

 shall encourage the use of, our valuable library. 



If we cannot soon find a way to wisely change, or radically 

 improve, these quarters, I would advise a careful consideration 

 of the removal of our library to a safe place of storage until 

 accommodations are constructed in which it will be reasonably 

 protected from fire. 



The use of modern methods and conveniences in the conduct 

 .of our Avork, that shall make its usefulness effective, without 

 unnecessary delay, should be adopted when such can be reason- 

 ably done 



A high standard in our lecture courses, with fewer lectures, if 



