DECEASE OF J. P. KIRTLAND, LL. D. 11 



for his scientific investigations and practical labors in a wide field 

 in natural histor}^, for more than fifty years, he has left a fame 

 rarely achieved. As a horticulturist and botanist, he has been con- 

 stantly at work for this long period, and his success in the produc- 

 tion of new varieties of fruits and flowers is widely known, and the 

 results of his labors are to be found in the gardens and orchards of 

 our country. He gave special attention to crossing the grape, 

 raspberry, and other fruits, particularly^ the cherry. The same 

 might be said of his efforts in the hybridization of the tree paeony, 

 one of the seedlings of which he dedicated to the speaker. He 

 was exceedingly successful in grafting and budding the magnolia, 

 and has left, surrounding his residence, very large trees of many 

 rare foreign kinds which are diflflcult to propagate. He created the 

 Cleveland Societ}^ of Natural Historj", and was for a long course 

 of years its President. He was chosen a member of the American 

 Philosophical Society, the highest recognition of scientific labor 

 known to the New World. He was for many 3'ears professor in 

 several medical schools, and was President of the Kirtland Society 

 of Natural History, besides filling man}" other places of honor and 

 trust. His interest in Natural History commenced in his youth, 

 and he was intimately' acquainted with the habits of beasts, birds 

 and fishes, and particularly' interested in the artificial production of 

 fish. His writings on the various branches of natural history have 

 been frequentl}' published and widel}' read. He was winning in 

 his manners and benevolent in his disposition. His great age was 

 the result of an active, wejl-ordered life, devoted to the public good, 

 and he retained his interest in his studies to its close. His name 

 will be cherished as that of one of the most useful men of his time, 

 and his example is worthj' of our imitation. 



Mr. Wilder then offered the following resolutions in memory of 

 Dr. Kirtland : 



Resolved^ That the members of the Massachusetts Horticultural 

 Societ}', in common with the public, have learned with deep and 

 sincere regret of the death of Jared P. Kirtland, LL. D., an old 

 and highly respected Honorary Member of this Society. 



Hesolved, That though Dr. Kirtland had arrived at an age not 

 commonly allotted to man, we regard his death as a national loss ; 

 the loss of one of the most learned and useful men that our country 

 has produced, as a citizen, a man of science, or a scholar. Few 

 have left such enduring memorials of industry, intelligence, and 

 devotion to all that pertains to rural art, rural taste, and human 



