86 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



case, and the scientist could use them in reaching right conclusions 

 and opinions in horticultural pursuits. The}" should never be jeal- 

 ous of each other, but should work together as friends and helpers. 

 This would be for the enlightenment and service of the whole com- 

 munity. 



During the discussion much had been said of the work of Nature, 

 as if it were a distinct thing from the work of man. But in truth 

 the}" were both operating in the same direction, if not always in the 

 same way. The mind of man is indeed a part of Nature, and its 

 efforts are designed to be toward the one great end, a perfect 

 culture. It is through man that her highest processes are to be 

 developed. Human means and instrumentalities are essential, both 

 to a correct knowledge and a right use of Nature. This idea would 

 help us in the consideration of our present subject, as in all others 

 of a like delicate and complex character. 



John B. Moore remarked that it was fortunate that trees are 

 not liable to be influenced in their fruit b}' the pollen of other trees. 

 If they were, a man might plant a Bartlett pear tree, and gather 

 any variety or any number of varieties ; and where trees were so 

 situated as to receive the pollen of other varieties, we should never 

 be sure what kind of fruit our trees would bear. 



E. W. Buswell mentioned a fact of which he^^was reminded by 

 the allusions that had been made to the manner in which insects 

 follow flowers. Being very fond of humming birds, and noticing 

 that they visited flowers with deep nectaries, he planted large num- 

 bers of honej'suckles, four o'clocks, and similar flowers. This plan 

 was entirely successful ; his garden was \dsited by multitudes of 

 humming birds, which grew friendl}", and even familiar. A pair of 

 large green humming birds would come and poise on their wings 

 before his face, and play over a bouquet of flowers which he held in 

 his hand. 



BUSINESS MEETING. 



Saturday, March 3, 1877. 



An adjourned meeting of the Societ}" was holden at 11 o'clock. 

 President Parkman in the chair. 



W. C. Strong, Chairman of the Committee on Publication, an- 



