470 Massachusetts HorticiiUurat Sociely. 



of our gi-atituiie and our respect, who gave the first great impulse to the 

 Agriculture and Horticulture in Massachusetts. 



Its influence is rapidly extending over the nation. But a few days since, 

 T attended a horticultural exhibition at Buffalo ; and amazed and delighted 

 was I to find states of more than half the Union represented in it; from 

 Massachusetts to Missouri, from Canada to Pennsylvania ; each of them 

 presented specimens of fiuits rivalling any which have been shown upon 

 your tables ; and saying to me, severally and all, " You of Massachusetts 

 have set us the example, and it has extended west, with the enterprise of 

 your states, with all branches of industry, in agriculture, in commerce, in 

 navigation ; and the pioneer to the wilderness carries with him the seeds of 

 science which have been so celebrated from the eflbrts of this institution." 

 But, ladies and gentlemen, I must not make a speech ; I did not rise for 

 that purpose, but to thank your President for the very kind manner in which 

 he has introduced me to your notice ; but there is one subject that I must 

 mention before I sit down, — the ladies; and I wish them to understand 

 that I cannot compliment them; for, as old Ossian has said, "Gone is 

 my strength for war, fallen my pride among women ;" but I must utter 

 one truth. It is to you that man is indebted for his refinements, for his 

 civilization, for his piety, for whatever there is good in him. Show me a 

 good man or a great man, and you may be certain that he had a good and a 

 great mother. The intellect is from the female side ; to her we are indebt- 

 ed for whatever there is of mind, for whatever there is of honor, of morals, 

 of virtue, or of integrity. She has instilled it into our young minds at her 

 fireside. To her we are indebted for all that is meritorious in us ; for, with- 

 out her, we should have been barbarians. She has taken up this very sub- 

 ject of plants and fruits, which has difl^used itself over the whole country. 

 When, riding through our highways, I see one shrubby the door, or flower- 

 pot in the window, I consider it the emblem of virtue and refinement ; of all 

 that is good and commendable in man or woman. I say to myself, " That 

 is a good family, well managed, well educated, and in the right way to re- 

 spect and confidence." Therefore, let me offer, Mr. President : — 



The Females of Massachusetts — To them is this society indebted for the extension of all that is 

 refined and honorable in horticulture. 



The President stated that we had present with us John S. Skinner, Esq. 

 of Philadelphia, the editor of the first agricultural paper ever published in 

 the United States — more recently of the Farmers' Library, and now of the 

 plough, loom, and anvil — all those have been conducted with a zeal and in- 

 telligence highly honorable to the author, and have received the approba- 

 tion of the most eminent men of our country. I propose, as a senti- 

 ment : — 



Jolm S. Skinner, Es(i. : The uniform friend of agriculture and rural economy — the annals of 

 our country attest the value of his labors — may he never lack the sunshine of popular patron- 

 age, and may his last days be his best days. 



To this, Mr. Skinner replied in an amusing as well as very interesting 

 speech, detailing the commencement of the American Farmer, thirty years 

 ago. He closed his remarks as follows : — 



