436 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



offering prizes to stimulate progress was sometimes well 

 answered; but in other cases a tiresome routine was 

 observed year after year, prizes being awarded for ob- 

 jects neither better than nor different from those distin- 

 guished in the same way several years before. It was 

 suggested, that, when no improvement was perceived, it 

 might be well to suppress the prize for a year or two. 



The discussions on horticultural subjects were, in the 

 opinion of President Parkman, one of the best new 

 features lately added to the Society. Yet these, too, 

 were apt to go round with the same persons, in the 

 same groove, at the same level of intelligence and 

 knowledge, and it was recommended that members 

 should more generally share in them, preparing them- 

 selves to do so by recalling what their own experience 

 had taught them on the subject announced, and, by 

 means of books and journals, comparing their own re- 

 sults with those reached by others, and thus the dis- 

 cussions would become a powerful means of stimulating 

 observation and thought. The offering of prizes for 

 essays, and the delivery of lectures by persons of known 

 ability, had had a good degree of success. Some of the 

 lectures were admirably suited to awaken interest, and 

 kindle a spirit of inquiry. t The printed Transactions 

 had greatly improved both in the quantity and quality 

 of their contents. 



President Gray, in his address, looked forward to see 

 what in the future demanded the attention of the mem- 

 bers of the Society, and after speaking of the financial 

 situation and of the debt, which can never be repaid, for 

 the noble library, which few as individuals could afford 

 to own ; of the opportunity, week by week, of seeing 

 so much that is rare and beautiful in fruits and flowers, 



