26 



el K. Tefft, died at Savannah, Ga., June 30, 1862. Joseph Willard, died at 

 Boston, May 12, 1865. Henry W. Ducachet, died at Philadelphia, Dec. 13, 

 1865. Simeon Shurtleff, died at Simmsburg, (Weatogue) Conn., Dec. 29, 

 1865. 



Six Field Meetings have been held during the past season ; at Nahant, 

 Standley's Grove in Beverly, Reading, Georgetown, North Andover and 

 Newburyport. These meetings have been largely attended with increased 

 interest ; everywhere the Institute has been very kindly received and every 

 facility extended. Our thanks are especially due to the friends who have 

 welcomed us in the various towns, and also to the Directors and Superinten- 

 dents of the Eastern and the Boston and Maine Railroads for their ready 

 cooperation in furnishing the necessary accommodations ; particularly to 

 the former, for extra trains, when desired, and other facilities in aid of the 

 general objects. The quarterly and semi-monthly meetings have been held 

 as usual at the rooms in Plummer Hall. A new feature has been added to 

 the evening meetings under the form of a social gathering at Hamilton 

 Hall, on the evening of May-day. Some thirty microscopes were place d 

 upon the tables, with suitable preparations to illustrate the remarks made in 

 the early part of the evening by C. M. Tracy, on the flowers of May, and 

 Dr. O. W. Holmes, of Boston, on the history and the uses of the microscope 

 for scientific research. After a collation the remainder of the evening was 

 devoted to social recreation, thus happily blending instruction and amuse- 

 ment. 



The Correspondence has largely increased during the year, in conse- 

 quence of the more extended circulation of the different publications, the 

 exchange of books, the receipt and presentation of numerous specimens. 

 Seven hundred and eighty-nine letters have been received by those having 

 charge of the several departments and placed on file. 



The Publication of the Proceedings and Historical Collections has been 

 continued during the year. In addition to the above, an Historical Notice 

 of the Institute, with the Act of Incorporation, &c. was issued in April, and 

 distributed to the members, subscribers to the publications, and exchanges. 



The Annual Exhibition of Fruits, Flowers and Vegetables, took place 

 at Mechanic Hall, on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Sept. 13, 

 14, 15 and 16, 1865. The committee of arrangements were enabled to dec- 

 orate the Hall by the kind and timely assistance of the ladies, members and 

 friends, and they exerted themselves assiduously to sustain the exhibition, 

 particularly at a season of drought of unprecedented extent, when vegetation 

 suffered severely and many predicted that, in consequence thereof, the dis- 

 play would amount almost to a failure. Committees were appointed to pre- 

 pare a schedule of premiums, which was printed and distributed, and prizes 

 were awarded to the successful competitors in accordance therewith, when- 

 ever the specimens exhibited were worthy of such recognizance. 



