ADDRESS. 



Gentlemen of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, — 



The history of Horticulture is co-extensive with 

 that of the human race. The first movement to- 

 wards civilization is evinced, in the cultivation of the 

 soil ; and a garden is the incipient type of extended 

 agriculture, and of flourishing empires ; the wild and 

 erratic pursuits of the savage are exchanged for the 

 local and quiet avocations of the husbandman ; the 

 arts and sciences are gradually developed, and ren- 

 dered subservient to the wants of society : but in the 

 progress of intelligence and refinement, those which 

 were earliest called into existence, although expanded 

 and rendered universal, to meet the demands of an in- 

 creased, and condensed population, are the last which 

 are perfectly matured. All the others must, previ- 

 ously, have approximated towards perfection. It is 

 then, that the grand results of their united applica- 

 tion are manifested, in the variety, number, utility, 

 and beauty of the products of rural industry ; and that 

 the conveniences, comforts, and enjoyments of life 

 are fully realized, by the triumphant labors of the 

 accomplished horticulturalist. 



The imperious demands of man are food, raiment, 

 and shelter. These are furnished by the harvests, 



