REPORT OF BOARD OF TRUSTEES. 123 



by prizes for plants grown in window boxes and exhibited before the So- 

 ciety at the end of the summer. 



The committee believes that this movement of making horticulture 

 more popular can be further extended by offering small prizes for amateurs 

 through some of the local horticultural societies in different parts of the 

 state, and in this way extend its influence beyond the metropolitan district. 



That the best interests of the Society can be obtained by reducing the 

 number of money prizes and increasing the number of medals and certifi- 

 cates, as appears to be the universal custom in European societies. 



That in order that exhibitors may have time to prepare their exhibits 

 schedules should be published from twelve to fifteen months before the 

 year in which the prizes are to be awarded. 



That prizes might well be offered for essays on practical horticultural 

 subjects, those essays receiving the highest awards to be printed from 

 time to time in the proceedings of the Society. 



iVt the conclusion of his report Prof. Sargent offered the following 

 motion: 



Voted, that it is the opinion of the Trustees that the best interests of 

 horticulture in Massachusetts will be served if the Society offers prizes 

 to be given at its exhibitions that will give to these the greatest possible 

 variety and interest; that will encourage the production and cultivation 

 of new plants, fruits, and vegetables; that will call attention to neglected 

 but desirable flowers, fruits, and vegetables; that will develop a taste for 

 flowers among persons who can cultivate their gardens only by their own 

 labor and without the aid of paid gardeners, and that to produce these 

 results the experiment should be tried of increasing the number of medals, 

 plate, and certificates of merit offered by the Society, of increasing the 

 amount of money prizes when money is offered, and of diminishing the 

 number of small money prizes which, while they may have the effect of 

 filling the Hall with exhibits, do little to promote horticulture. 



After some discussion of the matter the motion of Prof. Sargent 

 was adopted. 



On motion of Mr. Hill the report of the committee on the revision 

 of the schedule of prizes and exhibitions was accepted and the 

 accompanying detailed list of prizes and exhibitions was referred 

 to the Committee on Prizes and Exhibitions for its action and re- 

 port. 



On motion of Prof. Sargent it was voted that the sum of .SooOO.OO 

 be appropriated for prizes and gratuities to be awarded during the 

 vear 1907. 



