1868.] secretary's report. 21 



Some of you may incline to the opinion that the location is too remote. To 

 such I would commend a view of the city from Newton Hill. From that com- 

 manding eminence, itself an object of beauty to the horticulturist, let them 

 behold the rapid growth of the municipality, stretching out its arms and fast 

 encircling Agricultural Park in a closer embrace. Let them be made aware, 

 if not already cognizant of the fact, that Oread Hill is nigher that Park than 

 is Lincoln Square. And yet, gentlemen, my opinion is decided that, in the 

 event of a re-union being determined upon, Agricultural Hall should be re- 

 moved to the easterly side of the grounds ; should be materially enlarged and 

 thoroughly adapted to its new uses ; and, more essential than all, that access 

 to it should be from Sever street. 



Your secretary, in violation of tbe promise of bre^dty with which he com- 

 menced, has thus set forth the reasons brought forward by those who favor the 

 re-union of the two societies. So far as they tend to give a wider expansion to 

 our own sphere of usefulness, by displaying to multitudes who now never see 

 them, the fruits of our experiments and labors, thereby awakening emulation, 

 and to a greater degree realizing the intention of this Society, they commend 

 themselves to his judgment. But it must not be disguised that the objections 

 are serious, perhaps insurmountable. Our property is valuable, well invested, 

 steadily appreciating, and substantially unencumbered. In many of these par- 

 ticulars, perhaps the Agricultural Society might claim equality. But they 

 labor, and must for years, under the incubus of an indebtedness that cannot 

 fail to cramp their actions and materially diminish their usefulness. They 

 must depend entirely upon their receipts for admission, a reliance which hitherto 

 has not failed them, but in which an inopportune and severe storm would essen- 

 tially shake their faith. Our own Hall, on the other hand, yields a handsome 

 income, from which the expenses of our ordinary operations and the sum of our 

 premiums may be defrayed. 



The gravest objection to a consolidation or re-union, however, is to be found 

 in the somewhat anomalous character which the Agricultural Society appears 

 to be assuming. Our place would be appropriate enough, anywhere, in an ex- 

 hibition purely of terrte-culture. But whether we should "advance the science 

 and improve the practice of horticulture" by occupying a seat in a trottinw 

 sulky, is a problem too profound for the astuteness of your secretary. That we 

 might be invited to that entertainment, is certainly within the bounds of possi- 

 bility. 



It has also been proposed, by some of our active and judicious members, 

 that we try the experiment of holding an exhibition, concurrent with that of 

 the Agricultural Society, that corporation supplying the room and our own as- 

 suming the risk. The only objection to this, in the mind of your secretary, 

 would arise from the present location of Agricultural Hall. 



The whole matter is commended to your serious attention as one worthy of 

 the gravest consideration. Your secretary has spent much thought and time 

 upon it, and has been unable to attain a satisfactory conclusion. That our own 



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