HISTORICAL SKETCH. 67 



The Commillec had numerous consultations, and at a meeting of the 

 Society, held on the eighteenth of June, 1831, the President submitted a 

 Report in their behalf; and as it contains a brief account of the transactions 

 of the Society from its organization to that period, as well as the reasons 

 by which the committee were actuated in arriving at the result of their 

 deliberations in relation to the establishment of a Garden and Cemetery, it 

 may be here appropriately introduced, 



"When the Massachusetts Horticultural Society was founded, it was 

 confideotly anticipated, that at no very distant period a Garden of Experi- 

 ment would be established in tlie vicinity of Boston ; but to arrive at such 

 a pleasing result, it was deemed expedient that our efforts should first be 

 directed to the accomplishment of objects which would not require very 

 expensive pecuniary resources ; that we should proceed with great caution, 

 and by a prudential management of our means gradually develop a more 

 complete and efficient system, for rendering the institution as extensively 

 useful, as it was necessary and important. Public favor was to be propi- 

 tiated by the adoption of such incipient measures as were best calculated 

 to encourage patroKage and insure ultimate success. 



" With these views, the labors of the Society have been confined to the 

 collection and dissemination of intelligence, plants, scions and seeds, in the 

 various departments of Horticulture. An extensive correspondence was, 

 therefore, opened with similar associations in this country and Europe, as 

 well as with many gentlemen who were distinguished for their theoretical 

 attainments, practical information and experimental researches, in all the 

 branches of rural economy, on this continent and other portions of the 

 globe. 



" The kind disposition which has been generally evinced to advance the 

 interests of the Society, has had a salutary and cheering influence. Many 

 interesting and instructive communications have been received, and valuable 

 donations of books, seeds and plants have been made by generous foreign- 

 ers, and citizens of the United Slates. A liberal offer of co-operation has 

 been promptly tendered, in both hemispheres, and great advantages are 

 anticipated from a mutual interchange of good offices. 



" A Library t f considerable extent has been formed, containing many 

 of the most celebrated English and French works on Horticulture, — 

 several of which are magnificent ; and the apartments for the accommoda- 

 tion of the Society have been partially embellished with beautiful paintings 

 of some of our choice native varieties of fruits. By weekly exhibitions, 

 during eight months of the year, of fruits, flowers and esculent vegetables ; 

 by awarding premiums for proficiency in the art of gardening, and the 

 rearing of new, valuable, or superior products ; by disseminating intelli- 

 gence, and accounts of the proceedings of the Society at its regular and 

 special meetings, through the medium of the New England Farmer ; and 



