The Massachusetts Horticultural Society. 



THE MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 

 REiMINISCENCES. 



As the writer is one of the original members of the Massachusetts 

 Horticultural Society, and, with the exception of Cheever Newhall, 

 the only corporator mentioned in the charter now living, perhaps some 

 of his I'ecollections of the society's " day of small things," in compar- 

 ison with its present ample resources and operations, -may be worth 

 reading. 



Foity years ago the principal seed store and agricultural warehouse 

 in Boston (and excelled by only one or two in the United States) was 

 that connected with the New England Farmer, which has been con- 

 tinued and most honorably conducted to this day by Joseph Breck and 

 Son, on the same spot. The room was spacious, pleasantly located, 

 and attractive, and was a favorite resort for both the practical and 

 amateur cultivators of the city and vicinity, — a sort of Farmers' Ex- 

 change, — where they met and compared views about crops, culture, 

 &c. Thei'e the first idea of forming a Horticultural Society was 

 started, in the winter of 1828-9. The old Massachusetts Society for 

 promoting Agriculture, established in 1792, was in the hands of excel- 

 lent gentlemen, but who had passed the prime of life ; and, as a society, 

 they paid little or no attention to horticulture, although the president, 

 Hon. John Lowell, as well as Gorham Parsons, John Prince, and per- 

 haps some others, were enterprising in introducing new fruits from 

 Europe, and liberal in disseminating scions. It was thought there was 

 an ample field for a new society, of younger men, and that there was 

 an abundance of material and of horticultural taste in the public to sus- 

 tain it. Accordingly, an individual, who felt much interest in the 

 matter, after consultation with friends, had some fifty notices printed, 

 and addressed them to gentlemen interested in horticulture, inviting 

 them to meet at the insurance oftice of Z. Cook, Jr., on Congress 

 Street, near State, in the forenoon of Tuesday, February 24, 1829. It 

 was a bitter cold day, but the room was filled. To give character to 

 this preliminary meeting, it was felt to be quite an object to have Mr. 



