464 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



never have been imagined when the Society was 

 founded; and the cultivation of small fruits generally 

 has increased a hundred fold. As before remarked, the 

 peach is less easily produced, and the case of the cherry 

 is similar to that of the peach, while the plum has 

 become comparatively unknown. But, in spite of these 

 drawbacks, the words of President Strong in 1871 are 

 true, and may be appropriately quoted here : 



"Largely from tne award of prizes by the Society and the 

 stimulus of honorable competition, has resulted the fact that there 

 is a wider and more general distribution of the various fruits 

 among all classes in Eastern Massachusetts than in any other 

 portion of our country ; and possibly we may extend the com- 

 parison to any country. Of course we do not refer to the exten- 

 sive orchards in other sections, to local communities of fruit 

 growers, or to the bountiful prodigality of Nature in particular 

 fruits in favored localities. What we do affirm is this : that our 

 thousands of freeholds, extending from a quarter of an acre up 

 to the ample estate, are, to a good degree, supplied with the 

 various kinds of fruits, and that this is in marked contrast with 

 the homes in other portions of our country and in Europe. Our 

 Society has done a most important work in stimulating a general 

 love of culture and in increasing the extent of planting upon our 

 small homesteads. Still very much remains to be done, not only 

 in encouraging a much greater extent in planting, but more espe- 

 cially in raising the standard of cultivation ; for we must not 

 forget, that, while our exhibiters are most successful in their 

 products, the majority of cultivators are far behind this high 

 standard. It is for us continually to demonstrate the possibility 

 of overcoming the seriously increasing evils with which we have 

 to contend, so that all can attain the same success. Who can 

 estimate the elevating influence, and the stability which would be 

 given to the laboring classes, by thus beautifying their homes, and 

 strengthening their local attachments ? ' ' 



In the department of plants and flowers, which 

 includes a far greater number of species than that of 



