84 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTDRAL SOCIETY. [1880. 



than our simple Records? In which from the commencement, 

 until the doleful close by that festal river, there is scarcely a 

 page whereon his name is not obvious as of one suggesting new 

 themes and methods of improvement. Succeeding liis Uncle 

 William, lie became a Trustee, A. D. 1841, and thenceforward, 

 to the day of his death, was at your beck and call in whatsoever 

 position you might elect to make use of him. As Chairman of 

 Committees, — whether of Nomenclature ; or as a judge of the 

 rarer varieties of flower or fruit ; as Vice-President, and subse- 

 quently President, until his voluntary retirement ; and for the 

 entire Forty years, either by election or ex-officio a Trustee ; he 

 was ever ready to render service where you placed him. As 

 Chairman of a Special Committee, he reported, January 29th, 

 A. D. 1862, in favor of the removal of the Library of the Society 

 to this Hall ; a' recommendation which you wisely sanctioned. 

 He was the first to advise the inception of that system of Weekly 

 Meetings, for the discussion of Horticultural topics, which did so 

 much to arouse our own Members : an example that, lately 

 imitated by the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, has been 

 equally vivifying to that venerable body. Apt of perception 

 and prompt to act, his counsels were ever sagacious. Were 

 other proof lacking, — this very Hall, which he was swift to sug- 

 gest and in whose erection, as one of your Committee, he took 

 such interest, would furnish ample evidence. 



Of the direct services to the Horticulture of Worcester 

 County, rendered by Mr. Lincoln, there is not space left for 

 their recital. I have already spoken of his opportunities to 

 obtain and preserve varieties collected by Dr. Fiske. When 

 that Garden and Orchard was broken up, Mr. Lincoln was 

 careful to get all that was worth having : thereby doubtless 

 perpetuating much that must have been lost without such dili- 

 gence and knowledge. He was not accustomed, in his latter 

 years, to pride himself upon a somewhat virulent attack of the 

 Morus MulticauUs fever. But as one who was permitted, by 

 especial favor, to feed his silk-worms, your Secretary may be 

 suffered to remark that the disease ran its course, the patient 

 fully recovering ; while worms, mulberry-trees, and prospective 



