1891.] 
285 
[Annual Meeting. 
building up a new class of members tributary to the Natural 
History Gardens, and destined, it is believed, to be one of their 
strongest sources of support ; to these members it promised not 
only the freest entrance to the Gardens but also special privileges 
in the Society’s museum, library, and meetings, and even a share 
in its very organization, thus connecting the Gardens with the 
Society by an inalienable bond. The Council, in preparation for 
this new order of things, had meanwhile considered and prepared 
a general Appeal to the Citizens of Boston and vicinity for the 
monetary aid which alone could make the Gardens possible (the 
text of which is annexed to this Report) , and placed it in the 
hands of the Board for publication at such a time and in such a 
manner as was deemed best. 
Such was the condition of affairs when the Board was appointed. 
The Board at once decided that in order to secure for the Appeal 
the best consideration of our friends, it was desirable to present 
it in a form so attractive as to demand attention and to accom- 
pany it by such plans and illustrations as should make the oppor- 
tunities open to the Society by their favor as clear as possible. 
The Directors also consulted with a large number of gentlemen 
of influence in the vicinity who cordially permitted their names 
to appear as supporting our claim to consideration. Securing 
these names and also obtaining the desired illustrations through 
the favor of friends and by the employment of artists necessarily 
consumed much time, and it was only a couple of weeks ago that 
we were able to place in your hands and that of the general pub- 
lic (in which we were also aided by a friendly press) the little 
pamphlet describing what we hope to do and what favors we 
confidently look to receive. As it has barely been published, it 
is quite too soon for the Society or the public to expect us to 
make any definite statement of results from its publication. That 
must be left to the next Board. We can only say that it has 
met with the very friendliest reception, and besides immediately 
eliciting direct subscriptions, has induced some already to enroll 
themselves as applicants for Garden Membership. The money 
for the endowment of the Gardens, however, can not be secured by 
ordinary Garden Membership. It must come by the direct sub- 
scription of money ; and when so many calls are before the pub- 
lic, the raising of a large sum even for so popular an object as 
this is destined to be, is a severe task ; we need therefore the 
