220 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Thacher, Adlum, Powel, and Buel have, by precept and example, 

 assiduously fostered a taste for cultivation, and successfully pro- 

 moted developments in all the various branches of rural economy. 

 As pioneers in the science and -art of agriculture or gardening, 

 their services have been invaluable ; and while most of them still 

 live to behold the rapid and extensive progress of their cherished 

 pursuits, the important results of their experiments, and the glad- 

 dening influence of their beneficent labors, their names will ever 

 be held in grateful remembrance, as distinguished benefactors of 

 their country. 



" Enlightened by their instructions, and roused by their manly 

 enthusiasm, let us zealously imitate their commendable efforts, 

 and endeavor to render our institution as beneficial in its practi- 

 cal operations as it is cheering in theoretical promise." 



At four o'clock the members of the Society, with 

 friends and invited guests to the number of nearly one 

 hundred and sixty, sat down to a dinner at the Ex- 

 change Coffee House, on Congress Square, then the 

 principal hotel of the city. The dining hall was very 

 tastefully ornamented with festoons of flowers sus- 

 pended from the chandeliers ; and the tables were 

 loaded with orange trees in fruit and flower from Mr. 

 Lowell's greenhouses ; a large variety of Mexican Geor- 

 ginas (dahlias), of uncommon size and beauty, from 

 George W. Pratt and others ; roses and others choice 

 flowers from Mr. Aspinwall of Brookline ; and a fine 

 specimen of the India rubber tree, from Mr. Belknap 

 of Boston, interspersed with large bouquets of beauti- 

 ful flowers, and numerous baskets of grapes, peaches, 

 nectarines, pears, apples, and melons. The decorations 

 were arranged by Mrs. Z. Cook, jun., and Misses Dow- 

 ner, Haven, Tuttle, and Cook of Dorchester, assisted 

 by Mr. Haggerston of Charlestown, and Messrs. Senior 

 and Adamson of Eoxbury. At the dinner, besides the 

 regular toasts, sentiments were offered by Hon. Daniel 



