CHAPTER V. 



THE ROOMS OCCUPIED BY THE SOCIETY, INCLUDING THE 

 ERECTION AND DEDICATION OF THE FIRST AND SECOND 

 HORTICULTURAL HALLS. 



As the reader has already learned, the first meetings 

 with reference to the formation of the Massachusetts 

 Horticultural Society were held in the office of Zebedee 

 Cook, Jr., who was engaged in the insurance business 

 at No. 7 Congress Street, and there the Society was 

 organized. Mr. Cook's office was on the first floor, 

 and very convenient, and easy of access. Though the 

 building still remains, it has been much changed since 

 the Society was formed there. Three meetings of the 

 Society, on the 7th and 28th of April and the 12th 

 of May, were held at the same place, as were also the 

 meetings of the Council on the 24th of March and 

 the 7th of April. At the Council meeting March 24, 

 John C. Gray, Z. Cook, Jun., and Samuel Downer were 

 appointed a committee to procure a room for the use 

 of the members " of the Council and of the Society ; " 

 and on the 9th of June the meeting of the Society was 

 held at "the Society's room." Three days later the 

 New England Farmer announced that " a very con- 

 venient and spacious room has been fitted up, over the 

 counting room of the New England Farmer, No. 52 

 North Market Street, for the use of the Society. The 

 room is furnished with various agricultural, and other 



140 



