ADDRESS OF MR. STICKNEY. 113 



ORGANIZATION OF THE GOVERNMENT 



For the Year 1859. 



At the annual meeting of the Society for the induction into office of the 

 new Board of Government, held on the 1st of January, the following 

 Addresses were delivered by the retiring President, Josiah Stickney of 

 Watertown, and his successor in office, Joseph Breck of Brighton : — 



ADDRESS OF MR. STICKNEY. 



Gentlemen of the Massachusetts Hort. Society — 



We have a dark and unpropitious morning, but the silent, unerring 

 revolutions of time remind us of the duties devolving upon us to be per- 

 formed at this meeting, it being the day, in accordance with our by-laws, 

 on which the officers chosen at the last election are to enter upon their 

 duties. On the present occasion there will be fewer changes as compared 

 with the last year. 



You are probably all aware that I accepted the office of President with 

 the understanding that I should not be called upon to serve a second term, 

 and the time has now arrived when I can return to the ranks of my associ- 

 ates and fellow-laborers ; and although my time of service has been short, 

 it has been of unusual interest to me from the beginning to the close, for I 

 have been surrounded by those always ready and willing to assist me in 

 carrying forward the business of the Society, and thus my duties have been 

 easy and pleasant. 



During the past year we have parted with one of the earliest friends and 

 warmest advocates of this institution ; one of those whose earnest appeals 

 to his friends and the public awakened them to action, and resulted in 

 founding the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, — I allude to Mr. Zebe- 

 DEE Cook. He was our second President, and the Society owes a large 

 debt of gratitude to him for the active and disinterested effi^rts he made in 

 its behalf. Thus one by one are falling from our ranks, a class of men 

 whose large hearts, open hands, and earnest zeal in the science of horticul- 

 ture have laid the foundation of our Society on a solid basis. May we not 

 hope that we have those among us that will preserve and continue to im- 

 prove the work so well begun, and hand it down to our successors increased 

 in strength and usefulness ? 



Our Professors are also laboring assiduously to throw new light upon the 

 numerous subjects of interest which are so constantly presenting themselves 

 to their notice. 



The Treasurer's office is one of great responsibility, and all who know 

 the gentleman filling that station will bear witness to his fidelity and in- 

 dustry. 



The Superintendent has been punctual at his post, and has always dis- 

 charged his obligations with undeviating fidelity. 

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