4 



CITY LIBRARY ASSOCIATION. 



and at practically all of these the new lantern has been used. The 

 room is well adapted to such uses and the stereopticon is an excel- 

 lent instrument easily operated by home talent. 



The lectures included two courses, one of eleven in botany, which 

 was a continuation of last year's work directed by A. Vincent Osmun, 

 of the Massachusetts Agricultural College; and another of six lectures 

 on practical uses of electricity by Howard C. Kelly of the Central 

 High School. They were well attended and wholly satisfactory. 



The Allen Bird Club has many times during the year filled the 

 room with enthusiastic audiences. 



The Geological Society continues investigations of local geolog- 

 ical history, and for this and other affiliated organizations no effort is 

 spared to make available the many advantages that the museum can 

 offer. 



Flower Shows. 



Perhaps none have been more responsive than the Springfield 

 Amateur Horticultural Society. Accepting the museum's hospitality a 

 year and a half ago, the societ}^ has effected a revival of its flower 

 shows which were once famous events in Springfield. During 1912 five 

 were held in the basement of the building, which had previously been 

 used but for storage purposes. The place has proved very satisfactory, 

 as have these first flower displays which grew in size and quality as 

 they progressed. The work to be continued this year is undertaken 

 with renewed interest. Although members have worked zealously to 

 bring to pass this revival of interest, the Springfield Republican is the 

 true source of inspiration, following the society's first announcement of 

 plans with an offer of free advertising and cash for prizes to the extent 

 of $140.00 for the season. For 1913 the amount offered is $200.00, and 

 it is expected that as a result of this increase and of the impetus given 

 by last year's successes, the exhibition room will be filled with flowers 

 for the shows that are made after gardens are well established. 



Attendance. 



These attractions have brought many people to tlie museum. In- 

 creasing duties have made it practically impossible to keep exact 

 statistics of attendance, but a careful estimate indicates an increase 

 over the past record of 42,000 persons. The exact average of Sunday 

 attendance is 141 persons, an increase over last year's average, which 

 was 122. 



