10 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETT. 



which are now distributed throughout the frait growing world. As 

 a lover of the rose, and the great leader in its improvement in 

 England, his name will be embalmed in the hearts of grateful 

 millions, while the rose shall unfold its petals to the morning light, 

 or shed its fragrance on the passing breeze. Of his love and devo- 

 tion to the rose, it has been remarked that " Age cannot wither his 

 loyalty, and beneath a hundred medals, orders, and clasps, his 

 brave heart is still with the rose." His catalogue of roses, pub- 

 lished forty-four years ago, was pronounced by Mr. Loudon the 

 most useful one in the English language. 



Besides writing manj^ excellent practical works on horticulture, 

 Mr. Elvers had been for many years a large contributor to the 

 periodical press, and his various books and papers on the rose, the 

 pear, root pruning, double gi-afting, the construction of orchard- 

 houses and other cheap protections against the uncertainties of an 

 English climate, and on other subjects, are among the most valu- 

 able contributions to horticultural literature. 



Mr. Wilder said that time would fail him, were he to attempt to 

 enumerate the various ways in which Mr. Elvers' name has been 

 associated with the progress of rural economy and the horticulture 

 of the world. Truly it might be said of him, " His works do follow 

 him." His books are the best record of his life. 



Mr. Wilder closed by presenting the following resolutions : — 



Resolved, That in the death of Thomas Elvers, one of the oldest 

 and most respected corresponding members of this Society, we 

 recognize, in common with the horticultural world, the loss of a 

 friend of horticultural science, rural improvement, and ornamental 

 culture, and a benefactor to our race. 



Resolved, That while we deplore the loss of so useful a man, we 

 desire to thank the Supreme Disposer of all events that he was 

 spared to us for so long a course of years, and was at last gathered 

 to his fathers " like a shock of corn fully ripe in its season." 



Resolved, That the members of this Society s^onpathize sincerely 

 with the bereaved family in their affliction, and that a copy of these 

 proceedings be forwarded to Mrs. Elvers as a token of the respect 

 and esteem in which her late husband was held in America. 



William C. Strong testified to the sense of obligation which he, 

 in common with other horticulturists, felt to Mr. Elvers for his 

 many suggestive and successful experiments, especially in the con- 

 struction of cheap orchard-houses. 



