132 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The Library Committee were autliorized to dispose of certain 

 water-color paintings of flowers. 



The following preamble and resolutions were offered by Charles 

 M. Hovey : 



The Massachusetts Horticultural Society haAnng learned, with 

 deep sorrow, of the death of Josiah Stickney, one of the Ex- 

 Presidents of the Society, 



Resolved, That in his decease the Society has not only lost one 

 of its oldest and most honored members, but one who has aided 

 and counselled by his good judgment, and promoted its objects 

 by his many and frequent contributions of flowers and fruits. 



Resolved, That we recall, at this time, the generous gift which 

 he bestowed upon the Society for the special purpose of increasing 

 our fund of valuable knowledge in all departments of horticulture, 

 and acknowledge with deep gratitude the rich and timely' aid 

 bestowed on a science which it was the pleasure of his life to 

 promote, and we rejoice that a kind Providence permitted him to 

 see the good results of his gift. 



Resolved, That we desire to place on record our recognition of 

 the many and valuable services he has rendered, during a period of 

 nearly forty years ; our high esteem for the fidelity with which he 

 fulfilled the "duties of every office, and our admiration of his 

 sterling qualities as a man and a citizen. 



Resolved, That we sympathize with his family in their great 

 bereavement, and offer our condolence. 



Resolved, That these resolutions be entered on the records, and 

 a copy be sent to the family of the deceased. 



Mr. Hovey spoke of Mr. Stickney as one who, until within a 

 few years, had been constantly with us, and equally constant in 

 his contributions to our exhibitions. His love for horticulture 

 grew out of a visit to one of the dahlia exhibitions of the Societ}^ 

 then the most popular autumnal flower. He became a ver}' suc- 

 cessful cultivator, attending the meetings at which arrangements 

 were made for the grand dahlia exhibitions of that day, taking 

 part in the discussions of the properties of form, color, habit, etc., 

 which go to make up a perfect flower, and in establishing rules for 

 the exhibitions. At that time he had only a small garden at his 

 residence on Tremont street, but his increasing interest in horti- 

 culture soon led to the purchase of the beautiful villa in Watertown, 



