ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT FRANCIS PARKMAN. 7 



exhibited, they will have more mone}' left for those who deserve it, 

 and will greatly help the Society to fulfil its mission. In cases 

 where there has been no perceptible improvement for a long time, 

 it might be well to suppress the prize altogether for a year or two. 



The discussions on horticultural subjects have been of great ser- 

 vice, and are, in mj^ opinion, one of the best of the new features 

 lately added to the Societ}'. Much as the}^ have done for us already, 

 the}' are capable of doing far more. With us, as with all horti- 

 cultural or agricultural clubs or societies, discussion is subject to 

 the same evil that besets our exhibitions. It is apt to go round 

 with the same persons, in the same groove, keeping all the time at 

 about the same level of intelligence and knowledge, and so fail to 

 gain its real object, which is to develop those habits of investiga- 

 tion and reflection, without which the horticulturist can never be 

 master of his craft. Now I do not say that our discussions have 

 been of this barren sort. On the contrary-, I think that they have 

 done real good. But, judging by former years — for during the 

 last I have unfortunately been unable to attend them — the}' 

 might be made to do a great deal more good. If members would 

 more generally share in them, preparing themselves beforehand to 

 do so by recalling what their own experience may have taught them 

 about the subject announced, and then, by means of books and jour- 

 nals, comparing their own results with those reached by others, our 

 discussions would become a powerful means of stimulating observa- 

 tion and thought. 



Two other experiments have been made of late in connection 

 with the discussions, and with similar objects. Prizes have been 

 offered for Essa} s ; and persons of known ability, not always mem- 

 bers of the Society, have been invited to deliver lectures before it. 

 Both experiments have had a good degree of success. Some of 

 the lectures especially have been admirably suited to awaken interest 

 and kindle a spirit of inquir3^ 



There has been great improvement in our printed Transactions, 

 both in the quantit}' and quality of their contents, and in t^'po- 

 graphical and literary correctness. 



The History of the Society, so long in preparation* is now sub- 

 stantially finished. It embodies a vast amount of informatio.n, and 

 will be not only a minute record of our own histor}', but also an im- 

 portant contribution to that of American horticulture.. 



The Society has had its part in the financial dej^tression of the 



