Massachusetts Horticultural Society. 187 



place than tlie hall of the society, is a matter of no small importance ; for, 

 while a niggardly parsimony in tlie management of the affairs of the society 

 is to be avoided, care sliould be taken, that a liberal economy in expendi- 

 tm'e does not run into a wasteful extravagance. The removal of tlie furni- 

 ture, fixtures, and dishes, — the newly filling up and arranging them, — the 

 hire of the tent, or hall, and the lighting of it, — must necessarily be attended 

 with much cost, without taking into view the loss arising from the breakage 

 of, or injury to, tlie furniture ; a loss that cannot be wholly avoided. The 

 increased cost to the society, of having its exhibition at any other place than 

 its own hall, would, then, seem to be a sufficient objection to the so doing, un- 

 less obviated by some expected corresponding increase of advantage, to be 

 derived therefrom. And this, those who favor the project confidently antici- 

 pate, from a greatly increased number of visitors ; increased over what it 

 would be, if tlie exhibition was held in the hall of the society, to an extent 

 more than sufficient to balance any increase of expenditure thereby ; and by 

 a sufficient space obtained, to exhibit the fruits and flowers to advantage ; 

 space, as they Say, that cannot be afforded in the hall of the society. That 

 the few last annual exhibitions of the society have, from some cause, been 

 less numerously attended than is desirable, is not to be denied. Whether 

 the holding the exhibition under a tent, would, from its novelty, be more at- 

 tractive to the public, can only be decided by tlie experiment. Although 

 the hall of the society may not be sufficiently ample, to allow of a suitable 

 arrangement of plants and decorations, if room is reserved for all the articles 

 that may be sent to the exhibition, yet if only such fruits are placed upon 

 the table, as are, from their novelty or superiority, objects of interest, or 

 wortliy of notice, sufficient space can probably be provided therein, and in 

 the store under the hall, — the use of which, for the occasion, has been most 

 liberally tendered by its proprietor, for the purposes of the society. 



But, independent of the expense attending it, there is another inconven- 

 ience, that should not be overlooked, or too lightly estimated, that may ac- 

 company the having of the annual exhibition under a tent ; and that is, the 

 exposure to which the committees required to be in attendance may be sub- 

 jected, and the serious risk of injury to health arising therefrom, at a season 

 of tlie year to which our autumnal diseases are incident, — particularly if the 

 weather should be unpropitious ; a contingency that may, not improbably, 

 occur, and that would deprive the society, should it happen, of the expected 

 advantages arising from an increase of visitors. In answer to objections of 

 this character, it is denied that any undue exposure need be incurred ; that 

 all proper protection can be afforded, and needed accommodations provided ; 

 and that, though storms may occur, they should not be anticipated. 



Your committee learn, from inquiry, that the expense attending the holding 

 of the exhibition in any of the larger halls in the city, would be so great, as 

 to render it wholly inexpedient. A tent, as they are informed, is now in 

 process of construction, two hundred and fifty feet long, and one hundred 

 and fifty feet wide, for Mr. John Wright, the cost of which will be about 

 $1,500 ; that it will be completed in a short time, and tliat it is the intention 

 of that gentleman, to let it for such purposes as it may be required for. The 



