160 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



for, horticulture. Imbue the public with this, and the emulation 

 that it will create between amateurs, and the competition among 

 cultivators for the market, will be sufficient to fill, in a few j^ears, 

 the largest hall we could desire to possess. 



" Having expressed my views thus frankly on this subject, 

 permit me to touch upon details by suggesting whether a hall in 

 ever} r way suited to horticulture might not be built and fitted up 

 with reference to its soul-stirring kindred spirit, Music, where 

 the warbling voice and the 'Bird Song' might be wafted, like the 

 gentle zephyr, among the trees, the buds, the blossoms, and 

 the flowers, to ravish the ear, while the eye should be charmed by 

 the gems of lovely spring, or the golden drops and purple hues of 

 gorgeous autumn." 



Not only was the hall insufficient for the annual 

 exhibitions, but the Library Room was ill lighted and 

 damp, rendering it unsuitable for a reading-room, as 

 well as liable to injure the valuable books there depos- 

 ited. Accordingly, when in August, 1852, the owner 

 of the estate in the rear of the hall offered it for sale, 

 it was purchased by the Society with a view of extend- 

 ing the building so as to afford better accommodations. 

 In the summer of 1854 the subject of selling the 

 Society's real estate to Harvey D. Parker, who was then 

 erecting his hotel upon the adjoining land, was consid- 

 ered ; but no sale was made at that time. An arrange- 

 ment was, however, effected by which a narrow strip of 

 land, with the right to use one half the western wall of 

 the Society's building, was sold to Mr. Parker, the 

 Society receiving from him the sum of $1,553.74, and 

 the right to use the division wall to be erected by him, 

 in case they should extend their building southward. 



On the 6th of November, 1858, Eben Wight, Samuel 

 Walker, George W. Pratt, Edward S. Rand, Jun., and 

 F. Lyman Winship were appointed a committee " to 



