18 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Library, be authorized to make arrangements for the storage of a 

 portion of tlie books in some fire-proof buikling, to relieve the 

 present crowrled condition of the shelves. This motion was 

 carried. 



On motion of M. H. Norton the thanks of the Society were 

 unanimously presented to the retiring President for the able and 

 impartial manner in which he had j)erformed the duties of his 

 office for the last three years. 



A letter was read from Hollis Webster, Secretary of the Bos- 

 ton Mycological Club, expressing the thanks of the Club for the 

 courtesy shown them by the Society, and hearty thanks for the 

 generous hospitality extended. 



C. H. Ten^ney, of Methuen, and 

 William Donald, of West Eoxbury, 

 having been recommended by the Executive Committee for mem- 

 bership in the Society, were on ballot duly elected. 



Adjourned to Saturday, February 1. 



MEETING FOR LECTURE AND DISCUSSION. 



Saturday, January 11, 1896. 

 A meeting for Lecture and Discussion was holden today at 

 eleven o'clock, the President, Francis H. Appleton, in the chair. 



The following paper was read by the author : 



Hardy Garden Plants. 



By E. O. Oepet, of South Lancaster. 



There is perhaps no need for one to apologize for appearing 

 before a Massachusetts audience on the subject of this paper, 

 for there is probably no other section of the United States Avhere 

 this class of plants is so largely used and appreciated for deco- 

 rative gardening. Our latitude is well adapted to their culture, 

 owing to the heavy falls, during our average winter, of snow, 

 which is the best of all protecting mediums, and to our summers 

 not being so liot or so dry as in some other parts of the country. 

 We have a climate adapted to grow plants that come from almost 

 all parts of the world, and the possibilities of the hardy flower 

 garden are as great as those of any other branch of Horticulture, 



