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we have received from other horticultural societies. 

 More especially should we acknowledge the courte- 

 ous and flattering attentions bestowed on our society 

 in its infancy, by those of London and Paris, and of 

 New- York, a city which has added to its other high 

 claims to distinction, that of taking the lead in 

 American Horticulture. Our public authorities of 

 the state and city, have not been wanting in bestow- 

 ing upon us their support and favor, within their 

 respective spheres of operation. We are indebted to 

 the Legislature, for the enactment of most just and 

 wise provisions for the protection of our gardens and 

 orchards, — laws which, we trust, will be powerfully 

 effective, not only as a terror to evil-doers, but in 

 creating a wholesome public sentiment and diffusing 

 through the community a proper respect for the rights 

 of the industrious gardener to the fruits of his science 

 and assiduity. It is owing to the courtesy of our 

 city government, that we are now enabled to assem- 

 ble in this spacious and renowned Hall. The specta- 

 cle before you owes much of its splendor to the kind- 

 ness and liberality of those individuals, who have 

 consented to expose on this occasion, I am sure I 

 ought to say to hazard, the choicest productions of 

 their gardens and green-houses. That our fellow- 

 citizens generally are not indifferent to our success, 

 is a fact of which we need no other proof than the 

 audience who have this day honored us with their 

 presence, and I have only to say, that I can have no 

 fears for the success of Horticulture, while I see our 

 exhibitions thus supplied and thus countenanced. 



