HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 287 



find, an hour and a half before the opening of the meeting, people 

 wending their way to the place where the meeting was to be held. 

 It has made farmers and horticulturists better acquainted, and the 

 often er they meet, we find the better they turn out. 



Now, people of Excelsior, do organize a local society and do not 

 let it die out. 



Mr. Somerville. Ladies and Gentlemen. As a dutiful child 

 I don't want to be a disgrace to the parent. I remember the time 

 years ago when my friend, Mr. Harris, called a few of us in Ro- 

 chester, from the agricultural society, and organized this society. 

 Since that time, we have had a great many ups and downs, in the 

 cultivation of fruit and yet we have all had many successes and 

 some satisfactioD. This is the first time I have ever been in Ex- 

 celsior, and I truly feel thankful for the kind attention and usage 

 I have had in this place, and I find that the ladies of Excelsior 

 cannot be beaten in getting up a good dinner. 



Mr. Gould. I think that the high compliments that you have 

 paid the people of Excelsior, ought to be acknowledged by some- 

 one; therefore, I want to say that the invitation extended to the 

 society by the people of Excelsior was unanimous, and that we 

 have all endeavored to make you at home in our midst, and we 

 hardly think we are worth all the flattery that you are pouring out 

 upon us; still, we feel gratified, of course, and I wish to make that 

 acknowledgement. I hope that the time will come around again 

 when we can have you here. 



Mr. Latham. I want to say that the citizens of Excelsior feel 

 more than repaid for the little trouble this meeting has been to 

 them. The burden of the meeting has been divided among us. 

 The very interesting character of the meetings, and the large at- 

 tendance of our own people, show that we have been deriving a 

 great deal of benefit from these meetings, and I believe we are re- 

 paid for what we have done for you. 



If you do not come here next year, it seems to me that the right 

 thing for our society to do, is to go to some other town where there 

 is a horticultural interest, and create another center of interest such 

 as has been created here. The outcome of the meeting here, we 

 may not be able to see; but it has certainly given a great impetus, 

 to horticultural pursuits. The talk we had last night, and the 

 meeting this morning, has certainly been one of surpassing 

 ing interest to us. I was astonished at the development of the hor- 

 ticultural industry in our town, and I am sure we shall reap a great 

 benefit from this meeting. 



Dr. Perkins. I have been pleased in listening to the remarks 



