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REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF ARRANGEMENTS 



FOR THE TWENTY-SIXTH ANNUAL EXHIBITION. 



The Committee of Arrangements submit the following Report : 

 This exhibition of the Society was held under a large Pavilion on Boston 

 Common, and notwithstanding the drought which has proved so fatal in every 

 direction, was one of the most successful in the rich display of Fruits, 

 Flowers and Vegetables, exceeding any former exhibition of the Society. 

 In consequence of the extreme drought considerable anxiety was manifested 

 by most of the members, as to the feasibility of holding an Annual Exhibi- 

 tion, but the Fruits from our largest contributors were not only as large, but 

 equally as fair as at any former exhibition, while tlie smaller collections 

 brought in from our immediate vicinity plainly showed that an increased at- 

 tention to the cultivation of Fruits has been given by newly enlisted mem- 

 bers. It seemed evident to the Committee that other attractions than Fruits 

 should receive especial attention as proving attractive to the public and re- 

 munerative to the Society, and with a view to meet this exigency, your Com- 

 mittee would recommend that a liberal sum be appropriated for Floral De- 

 signs of superior merit, regard being had to the architectural beauty, as well 

 as the artistic arrangement of the materials. By the grand display of Pot 

 Plants it is evident to your Committee that it only needs additional encour- 

 agement to render this part of the Exhibition most attractive, and your Com- 

 mittee would recommend a liberal appropriation seasonably made known, in 

 order that sufficient time may be allowed for growing them. Your Commit- 

 tee would again urge the necessity of procuring dishes, marked with the 

 name of the Society. This would prevent, in a great degree, large quanti- 

 ties of glass ware being lost or mislaid, not only at the Annual Exhibition 

 but during the season. Your Committee deem it desirable that all premi- 

 ums and gratuities awarded at any future Annual Exhibition, should be be- 

 stowed in plate, medals, or books, as redounding more to the object for 

 which the Society was established, and proving an incentive to new contrib- 

 utors, by receiving a more lasting testimonial. Ample accommodation was 

 made for the Pomological Convention, but from the small amount contribu- 

 ted it was apparent that all parts of the country had equally suffered from the 

 prevailing drought. Profiting by a suggestion made in a previous Report, the 

 Committee advertised for proposals to furnish the lumber, execute the work 

 &c., by which means a large saving was made. Notwithstanding all the 

 economy consistent was practised, the expenses were somewhat larger than 

 at the previous Exhibition, an important item of which was the glass 

 ware. The amount of expense in hiring the glass alone was #212 51 ; 

 the contract for flooring and tables, $437 50; the use of the Pavilion 



