84 HISTORICAL SKETCH. 



certainly receive their reward on earth, as the realization of its eternal 

 fruition beyond the precincts of mortality. 



The other generous patrons of the Society have long merited and 

 received the commendations of their fellow-countrymen, for their large and 

 numerous public and private benefactions ; but none of the recipients of 

 their largesses have greater cause for gratulation and thanks, than the 

 members of that institution. 



When the Massachusetts Horticultural Society was instituted, there were 

 but four in the United States, and now there are thirtysix ; seven of which 

 are in Massachusetts, seven in New York, three in Pennsylvania, three in 

 Ohio, two in each of the Stales of Indiana, Illinois and Michigan, and one 

 in each of the States of New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Dela- 

 ware, Maryland, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, Iowa and Wisconsin. 



There is not any department of Horticulture, which has been so rapidly 

 and broadly extended, as the establishment of spacious Nurseries. Thirty 

 years since there ^vere not more than five in the Union, which could be 

 considered as worthy of the name, and it has been recently ascertained 

 that there are between seventy and eighty, which are justly celebrated for 

 the number and variety of the plants they contain ; and numerous others 

 have been commenced in all parts of the country. In this State there are 

 twenty which issue catalogues, and nearly two hundred which include an 

 acre or more of land. It is to be regretted that we can only allude to 

 some of those which are the most distinguished. 



To William Kenrick, of Newton, is due the credit of having founded 

 the first really valuable Nursery in New England, and but few persons, in 

 this country, have done as much to advance all the branches of rural 

 culture. He has published an excellent work, called the " New American 

 Orchard ist," which deservedly maintains a high reputation. 



The Nursery of the Messrs. Winship, in Brighton, was the second, which 

 justly become notorious, and has ever maintained a high character, from 

 its extent and skillful management. Both of these adventurous and indus- 

 trious proprietors, were conspicuous for the services they rendered in the 

 organization of the Society, and for the zealous manner in Avhich they 

 co-operated for its advancement. From their beautiful grounds have been 

 sent a full proportion of the jiroduets of horticulture, which have decorated 

 the Hall, on the days of the Weekly and Ainiual Exhibitions. 



Robert Manning formed a Nursery, in Salem, about twenty years since, 

 which was almost exclusively appropriated to the rearing of fruit trees, as 

 he was an enthusiast in their culture, and emulous to collect, from all parts 

 of the Avorld, the best varieties of each genus and species ; and his success 

 may be inferred from the fact, that at one of the Annual Exhibitions, he 

 presented specimens of over one hundred and sixty kinds of Pears, which he 

 bad raised. He was, unquestionably, the best informed and ablest pomol- 



