2 So Massachusetts Horticultural Society. 



strawberry, it may be mentioned that tlie annual premium for the best 

 was but two doUars. Keens's Seedling and Wilmot's Superb (both 

 now forgotten) were the most talked about, and for which Mr. Hag- 

 gerston visually obtained the small premium. Mr. Sedgwick com- 

 plained that one might travel from Boston to Buffalo, and scarcely see 

 a dish of strawberries, or any other fruit, on his route, " whereas 

 strawberries and raspberries might be grown and sold in every consid- 

 erable village by the idlers that were dawdling about." No such 

 sweeping complaint can now be made. At a weekly show, tlie last of 

 June, one hundred and fifty varieties of roses were exhibited, of wliicii 

 fifty were by the Messrs. Winship. 



The Third Annual Festival was held at Concert Hall, in September, 

 and the address delivered by Dr. M. A. Ward, of Salem, at the Athe- 

 naeum lecture-room. The show of fruit was not equal to the two pre- 

 vious occasions. Charles Lawrence, of Salem, exhibited four bunches 

 of Black Hamburg grapes, the largest weighing twenty-four ounces. 

 About two hundred persons sat down to a dinner, the sumptuousness 

 of which made amends for any deficiency in the show of horticultural 

 products ; and there was quite as great a flow of wit and fun as on any 

 previous occasion. Several distinguished gentlemen were present as 

 guests, according to the hospitable usage that has always prevailed at 

 " the Hub ; " and besides the regular toasts, some eighteen or twenty 

 volunteers were ofl'ered by gentlemen who have all passed away, except 

 Dr. Bigelow and John C. Gray, and possibly one or two others. The 

 doctor's toast was received with great hilarity at the time, and will excite 

 a smile now. It will be recollected that the Bunker Hill Monument, 

 after having been carried up thirty-seven feet, in 1828, was suspended a 

 dozen years for want of funds. It was in this deplorable condition 

 when the doctor gave, as a volunteer, " The Bunker Hill Monument : 

 We regret to find it resembles in nothing the worthies it commemorates, 

 except in having come to an obstinate standi 



And as circumstances led me out of horticultural pursuits, and to the 

 Western States a few years after this, I will no longer abuse the pa- 

 tience of your readers, but come to a stand myself. R. 



Washington, D. C. 



