STATE HORTICULTUEAL SOCIETY. 123- 



him and tie has always spoken encouraging words and seemed to- 

 take a deep interest in our work. 



Marshall Pickney Wilder died at his home in Eoxbury, Mass., 

 Dec. 16, 1886. He was born at Eindge, N. H., Sept. 22, 1798. 

 Of his early history we learn that he commenced attending the 

 public school when four years old; at twelve he entered the l^ew 

 Ipswich academy where he remained one year and then pursued 

 his studies for three years under a private tutor. At the age of 

 sixteen his father gave him the choice of preparing himself for 

 the life of a farmer, merchargb or professional man. He chose the 

 first and spent the next few years upon his father's farm, and 

 among the lakes and forests of his native state where he laid the 

 foundation for the enduring health to which he was greatly in- 

 debted for the mental and physical energy that has distin- 

 guished his subsequent career, and. there he imbibed inspirations 

 and a love for everything beautiful in nature, that had much to 

 do in moulding his long and useful life. In 1825 he removed to 

 Boston, Mass., and engaged in the mercantile business, in which 

 he amassed a comfortable fortune and attained a high i30sition 

 as a business man, and no man in our country has been honored 

 with a greater number of important trusts. But it is in the 

 pomological and horticultural world where he was most widely 

 and favorably known and his name has been synonymous with 

 progress in horticulture and promology throughout North 

 America for more than half a century. His name is a house- 

 hold word in every home in our land where good fruits are ap- 

 preciated, and it has been truthfully said of him that he was 

 one who by his industry and determination has not onlv con- 

 ferred lasting benefits upon his own country but has by his care- 

 ful researches in hybridizing and selections in fruit culture laid 

 the horticulturists of all nations under heavy obligations. We 

 read of him in 1829 as one of the prominent members of the 

 Massachusetts Horticultural Society, and ever after as one of 

 its most zealous and efficient members, and for many years its 

 president. He was its president in 1844 when it laid the corner 

 stone of Horticultural Hall, which is believed to be the first 

 building ever erected by a horticultural society for its exhi- 

 bitions. 



In 1848, as president of the Massachusetts Horticultural Soci- 

 ety, he headed a circular addressed to all the horticultural socie- 

 ties and leading pomologists throughout the country, calling a 

 convention in New York, which was held in October, and re- 



