82 HISTORICAL SKETCH. 



The wonderful progress which has been made in Garden Cultivation, in 

 this State, since the establishment of the Society, was verified in a most 

 signal and gratifying manner, by the magnificent collection of Fruits, 

 Flowers and Vegetables which were exhibited at Faneuil Hall, on its 

 twentieth Annual Festival, in the Autumn of 1848 ; for it was universally 

 considered that it had never been equalled in this country, and would have 

 favorably compared with that of any Society in Europe. For the display 

 of the Fruits alone, six ranges of tables were required, which extended the 

 entire length of that hall ; and its whole area, including the windows, 

 galleries and columns, was superbly decorated by a profusion of flowering 

 plants, which were tastefully arranged in pots, vases, glass stands, bouquets, 

 festoons, wreaths and garlands. The esculent products were equally 

 remarkable for number, variety and perfection of development. 



The number of distinct parcels of specimens and varieties of Fruits, 

 Flowers and Vegetables presented for exhibition, were estimated to have 

 been as follows : parcels of Pears, one thousand three hundred ; varieties 

 three hundred and fifty — Apples, six hundred ; varieties one hundred and 

 fifty — Grapes, one hundred and Iwentyfive ; varieties forty — Peaches, 

 fifty ; varieties twentyfive — Plums, twentyfive ; varieties twelve ; making an 

 aggregate of two thousand one hundred parcels, five hundred and seventy- 

 seven varieties, and over eight thousand specimens ; about three thousand 

 specimens of FloAvers, including more than four hundred varieties, and one 

 thousand five hundred specimens of Vegetables, Avhich comprehended 

 seventy varieties. 



At the first exhibition there were only fiftyfive parcels of Fruit, including 

 not over thirty varieties, and not more than one hundred and twenty kinds 

 of Flowers. 



At the close of that brilliant festival Col. Wilder resigned the office of 

 President, which he had filled in a most eflScient and acceptable manner for 

 eight years ; and was succeeded by Samuel Walker, Esq. The former 

 gentleman has long been distinguished for the numerous experiments he 

 has made in many of the branches of cultivation, his large importations 

 of the most precious varieties of fruit trees and flowering shrubs and 

 plants, and his many communications on horticultural and agricultural 

 subjects. 



Having done important service in one of the two chief departments of 

 geoponic industry, he has recently been elected to preside over an institu- 

 tion in the County of Norfolk, which includes both ; and fortunate are the 

 members and the people of that seel ion of the Commonwealth, that a 

 gentleman so competent has been selected for that station ; for they may be 

 assured, that whatever can be done to render that Society as beneficial to 

 the proprietors of the soil, as its organization has been creditable to the 

 associates, he will earnestly endeavor to achieve. 



