258 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



labors of the Library Committee and the gift of Mr, Stickne}'. it 

 was revived, and the Library may now claim to be of fully equal 

 importance with any department of the Society ; indeed, as an 

 educational influence, it may justly claim greater importance than 

 any other department. The Library and the annual courses of 

 lectures, only, can give the Society any claim to be considered a 

 scientific institution. No more beautiful sight is afforded any- 

 where, or at any time, than tiie specimens of plants, flowers, 

 fruits, and vegetables contributed in such perfection to the 

 various exhibitions of this Society ; but though they may excite in 

 the beholders a desire to go and do likewise, in themselves they 

 afford no information how to do it. The money spent in prizes 

 and gratuities for these beautiful productions is doubtless pro- 

 ductive of much good, but its permanent benefit, both to individ- 

 uals and to the Society, is but small compared with that derived 

 from a well stocked and carefully selected librar}', for that benefit 

 is permanent and continually increasing. 



The Library of the Royal Botanic Gardens, at Kew, is thought 

 to be the best botanical library in the world, and there can be no 

 better judge of such a library, both fiom a practical and scientific 

 point of view, than Mr. George Nicholson, the Curator of the 

 Gardens, author of the " Illustrated Dictionary of Gardening," 

 and a Corresponding Member of this Society. When looking over 

 our Library a few years ago, he exclaimed, " It is wonderful — it 

 is wonderful — it is something that not only the State, but the 

 whole nation, should be proud of!" 



Robert Manning, 



Secretary and Librarian. 



December 18, 1897. 



