



120 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



rural cemetery, presented to the Society June 18, 

 1831: 



"When the Massachusetts Horticultural Society was organized, 

 it was confidently anticipated, that, at no very distant period, a 

 garden of experiment would be established in - the vicinity of 

 Boston ; but, to arrive at such a pleasing result, it was deemed ex- 

 pedient that our efforts should first be directed to the accomplish- 

 ment of objects which would not require ver} T extensive pecuniary 

 resources ; that we should proceed with great caution, and, by a 

 prudential management of our means, gradually develop a more 

 complete and efficient system for rendering the institution as 

 extensively useful as it was necessary and important. Public favor 

 was to be propitiated by the adoption of such incipient measures 

 as were best calculated to encourage patronage, and insure ulti- 

 mate success." 



Though the Society had then been in existence, and 

 conducted in accordance with these views, but little more 

 than two years, the committee were enabled to add, that 

 " the kind disposition which had been generally evinced 

 to advance its interests had had a salutary and cheering 

 influence." Yet at that time the only resources of the 

 Society, excepting a single donation of a hundred dol- 

 lars, were derived from admission fees and assessments, 

 the former being five dollars, and the latter two dollars 

 a year ; or any member might compound for his future 

 assessments by the payment of thirty dollars. By the 

 by-laws adopted in 1836 the fee for life membership 

 was reduced to twenty dollars ; but in 1866 it was again 

 raised to thirty dollars, and at the same time the admis- 

 sion fee for annual members was increased to ten dol- 

 lars. The annual assessment is limited by the Act of 

 Incorporation to two dollars. 



The revenue derived from this source has fluctuat- 

 ed greatly. During the connection of Mount Auburn 



