Secretary’s General Report. 
ItoriiERTKR, March 1SS!2. 
The first business meeting of tlie present fiscal year was held 
in this city on Oct. 14th, 1881, at whicii fourteen pei'sons were 
elected memhers of tlie Society. A set of Tides and Tegulations 
for Exhihitions, wliich had iVreviously hoen snluuitted to all the 
nieudiers of the Society by the Executive Oonnnittee, was ado])t- 
ed at this meeting without a dissenting vote, for jieruiaiient 
government, subject to such changes and amendments as may 
hereafter be found necessary. The Executive (committee, in 
('onjunctiou with the Local Comnuttee, was empowered to make 
all aia-angemeuts for the Boston Exhibition, according as the 
circumstances should reipiire. The names of several gentlemen 
capable of acting as judges were listed, and it was agreed that 
any three of the uumher should he chosen who might find it 
agreealile to serve. 
The Local (Committee did not succeed in securing a hall for 
the Exhibition in Boston, and that duty had to he undertaken by 
the Executive (Jommittee. At the ci’iti(‘,al moment the Rex'. 
^Yilliam Elgin very generously volunteered to go to lloston from 
New Yoi'k and did so about the iiOth of Octobei'. His mission, 
Mdiich was performed at great personal inconvenience and sacrifice, 
was eminently siiccessfnl, inasmuch as he succeeded in secni-ing 
Horticultural Hall as the place for our Exhibition, at a saving of 
$100 from wdiat the Society would otherwise have' been obliged 
to pay. For this valuable service the Rev. Mr. Elgin is entitled 
to the best thanks of the Society. 
The fact was developed that Horticultural Hall was the oidy 
hall in Boston in the least adajxted, by size and locati^m, for our 
purposes, and eveiy effort was made to secure it fi'oni Ninx 21st. 
Owing to standing engagements the earliest possible date at which 
the hall could be placed at our disposal for ten days was Dec. 12, 
and there was no other way oj)eu. It was regi-etted that the Ex- 
