474 



HORTICULTURE 



March 28, 1914 



Just half a hundred of Boston horti- 

 culturists and invited guests sat down 

 t9 a bountiful repast and royal good 

 time at the Parker House, on Thurs- 

 day evening, March 19. The accom- 

 panying picture gives some idea of the 

 scene, except that the vases of flowers 

 with which the table was adorned 

 •were temporarily set one side, so that 

 the features of the good-looking gentle- 

 men present might be fully in sight. 

 After the menu had received due at- 

 tention, J. K. M. L. Farquhar expressed 

 pleasure on behalf of the Boston fra- 

 ternity at having a visit from the Ex- 

 ecutive Board after an interim of 24 

 years and introduced President Theo- 

 dore Wirth, as the first speaker. Mr. 

 Wirth got a great and noisy reception. 

 In his kind remarks about Boston he 

 referred affectionately to the work of 

 the late J. A. Pettigrew and apprecia- 

 tively to the gardeners' share in Bos- 

 ton's horticultural preeminence. He 

 asserted that every one associated with 

 the S. A. F. gets back with compound 

 interest all he ever puts in. 



John H. Dillon, the new chairman of 

 the Boston Park Commission was next 



introduced, W. J. Stewart participat- 

 ing in the introduction with a few re- 

 marks on his long association and ac- 

 quaintance with Mr. Dillon, they hav- 

 ing worked together as boys in a flow- 

 er store many years ago. Mr. Dillon 

 made an eloquent address, declaring 

 his pride in being a gardener and his 

 sincere desire to administer the affairs 

 of Boston's great park system with 

 zeal and efficiency. He gave assur- 

 ance of his sympathy with the work of 

 the S. A. F., and presented officially 

 the regrets of the Chief Executive of 

 the city in his inability to be present. 



Alexander McGregor of the Gover- 

 nor's Council, presented the greetings 

 of the Commonwealth. He had a word 

 of appreciation for the happy occasion 

 and for the optimistic man who keeps 

 on the sunny side of the street. It 

 was an eloquent address and uproar- 

 iously applauded. 



W. P. Kasting spoke for the toast 

 "Our Country." He made a gloriously 

 patriotic speech, paid high compliment 

 to Boston floriculture and said he 

 would always retain sweet memories 

 of his visit.. 



The contest of oratory was next en- 

 tered by W. F. Gude, who made an ad- 

 dress full of altruistic sentiment and 

 praise of the spirit of organization 

 and united effort and closed with the 



presentation of resolutions of thanks 

 by the visitors to their Boston hosts, 

 which the visitors adopted with great 

 enthusiasm. 



J. J. Hess, presented the compli- 

 ments of Nebraska and said that the 

 advice "Go West young man" still 

 holds good. 



Secretary W. P. Rich of the Mass. 

 Horticultural Society spoke kindly 

 greetings from that body, 83 years of 

 age, yet still young and full of pro- 

 gresslveness, determined to make its 

 future history as great and glorious 

 as its past has been. He said that the 

 S. A. F., will be known more than 

 in the past, after this enthusiastic con- 

 vention. 



W. J. Kennedy responded happily for 

 the Gardeners' and Florists' Club, of 

 which he is president. E. Allan Peirce 

 spoke for the flower markets. J. F. 

 Huss brought a cheery message from 

 Connecticut and spoke diplomatically 

 of the great mission of the florists' 

 clubs. A. E. Thatcher was ready with 

 a good story and a healthy boost for 

 what Maine is going to do for the 

 Convention. 



P. Welch the next speaker, was given 

 a grand ovation. His speech was full 

 of wit and constructive suggestion. 

 He was hailed as "The man of the 

 hour." Deputy Park Commissioner, J. 



