INAUGURAL MEETING 13 



in addition, by the Red Cross, which brought in a goodly sum to the 

 Chapter. 



The remainder of the exhibitions were far below the usual high 

 standard of the Society. This result was doubtless due to pre- 

 vailing war conditions, although the elimination of money prizes 

 had something to do in diminishing the interest in the exhibitions, 

 as, with many members of the Society, the plan was not popular, 

 and the exhibitions consequently suffered. 



For many years, indeed since its foundation, the Society has 

 chiefly confined its efforts to increase the knowledge and love of 

 horticulture by numerous exhibitions; by occasional lectures — 

 many of which have been published in its Transactions — and by 

 the formation and support of a Library which contains one of the 

 largest and best collections of books relating to horticulture and 

 kindred subjects in the world, and which ought to be made great 

 use of by our members. While the members do not use the Library 

 as often as one would expect, it is much used by writers on horti- 

 cultural subjects. To such writers, it has become a necessity to 

 consult our Library, and men and women come from all parts of 

 the country to do so. It may not be generally known, as it should 

 be, that books can be borrowed from this Library for use in our 

 homes. The Librarian has been asked to give greater publicity 

 to the value of this great Library; to inform members how they 

 can obtain books for their own use ; and to issue monthly bulletins 

 of the additions made to the Library, which should be sent to each 

 member of the Society and to other horticultural societies in the 

 State. It is hoped that when these facts are more generally known, 

 the Library will in the future be of more use to the public than it 

 has been in the past. 



In order to do our share in helping France, it would be well to 

 consider the question whether we should not aid in replanting 

 the districts which have been so frightfully devastated by this 

 recent war. Other societies have done their share, such as the 

 Royal Horticultural Society of London, the Horticultural Society 

 of New York, and the Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agri- 

 culture. It would seem as if our Society should do its share, even 

 if done in a moderate way, which, from our financial condition, 

 must be the case unless we raise the money from our members. 



