HISTORICAL SKETCH. 65 



To the gentlemen named in a preceding article, on the " Character, 

 History and Culture of the Pear,"=^ and to Gov. Lincoln, Hon. Timothy 

 Bigelow, Richard Sullivan, J. Quincy, P. C. Brooks, Theodore Lyman, 

 Stephen Higginson, John Prince, Gorham Parsons, E. H. Derby and J. 

 Barrell, Esquires, are we chiefly indebted for many of the most valuable 

 products of the garden, as well as for the earliest experiments and improve- 

 ments in useful and ornam3ntal cultivation. 



The well managed grounds of those gentlemen, had a most propitious 

 influence in the several towns where they were situated, and was gradually 

 experienced in all parts of New England ; but it became apparent, that a 

 zealous co-operation of all persons interested in gardening, was required 

 for producing a more general and speedy extension of scientific and prac- 

 tical knowledge in all ils branches ; and in the winter of 1829 a number 

 of gentlemen of Boston and the adjacent towns, determined to attempt the 

 establishment of a Horticultural Society, for the accomplishment of that 

 very desirable object. A meeting was, therefore, holden in Boston on the 

 24th of February, for the consideration of the subject, when the Hon. 

 John Lowell Avas chosen Moderator, and Z. Cook, Esq., Secretary ; and 

 after mature deliberation, there being no discrepancy of opinion as to the 

 great advantages which would be derived from the organization of such an 

 institution, a Committee was appointed, consisting of H. A. S. Dearborn, 

 Z. Cook and S. Downer, to form a Constitution and By-Laws; measures 

 were also adopted for procuring subscribers to the Society. 



An adjourned meeting was holden on the seventeenth of March, and 

 Mr. Lowell having been prevented by illness from attending. General 

 Wn.LL\M H. Sumner was elected Moderator, who announced, that since 

 the previous meeting the subscribers had increased to one hundred and 

 sixty. A Constitution and By-Laws having been reported by the Com- 

 mittee to whom those subjects were referred, they were unanimously 

 adopted. 



The Society was then organized by the election of the following Oflicers : 



H. A. S. Dearborn, of Roxbury, President. 



Zebedee Cook, Jr., of Dorchester, Vice President. 



John C. Gray, of Boston, " " 



Robert Manning, of Salem, " " 



Enoch Bartlrtt, of Roxbury, " " 



Cheever Newhall, of Boston, Treasurer. 



Jacob Bigelow, of Boston, Corresponding Secretary. 



Robert L. Emmons, of Boston, Recording Secretary. 

 The Society was incorporated by an Act of the Legislature, on the 12th 

 of June, 1829. 



* Si-c pa^f" !■'>, of Transactions. 



