HISTOEY 



OF THE 



MASSACHUSETTS HOBTICULTUKAL SOCIETY, 



CHAPTER I. 



THE ORGANIZATION AND OBJECTS OF THE SOCIETY. 



WE have seen how the way was gradually prepared 

 for the formation of a horticultural society in the State 

 of Massachusetts. It has often been observed, that, 

 when the time is ripe for the development of an idea, it 

 occurs simultaneously to many minds ; and it is not easy 

 now to prove who first suggested the establishment of 

 the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. Gen. Dear- 

 born twice states, in written prefaces to volumes of his 

 works which he has left to his family, that " a number 

 of gentlemen in Boston and the surrounding towns had 

 long considered it desirable that an association should be 

 formed for advancing the science and art of horticul- 

 ture ; and, after several informal meetings, a public one 

 was held in the city, on the 24th of February, 1829, 

 when it was determined to organize a society." 



In the winter of 1828-29 a letter was received by 

 John B. Russell, publisher of the New England Farm- 

 er, from Judge Buel of Albany, who asked, " Why do 

 not the Boston gentlemen start a horticultural society ? " 



55 



