No. 4.] PUBLIC WINTER MEETING. 9 



feel that I am doubly and amply repaid for coming here this 

 morning and making a feeble attempt to take the place of his 

 honor the mayor. 



The Chairman. I think, ladies and gentlemen, at this time 

 we expect a few words from the representative of the Massa- 

 chusetts Horticultural Society in whose building we are guests. 

 Possibly Mr. W. P. Rich, its secretary, will express the greet- 

 ings of that society to us. 



Mr. Rich. Mr. Chairman and Ladies and Gentlemen: At 

 very short notice our president, Mr. Saltonstall, informed me 

 that he was unable to remain at the meeting. He has pre- 

 pared a few notes which he asked me to read for him, so I will 

 take his place, as in duty bound to obey the orders of my 

 superior. 



ADDRESS OF WELCOME OF MR. R. M. SALTONSTALL, PRES- 

 IDENT OF THE MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL 

 SOCIETY. 



Gentlemen of the Massachusetts State Board of Agriculture: 

 It affords me great pleasure to extend to you all the cordial 

 greetings of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. 



This society of ours, as maiiy of you know, is one of the 

 oldest incorporated societies of its kind in the country. It was 

 incorporated in 1829, and is now starting in on the eighty- 

 seventh year of its existence. In 1929 we shall celebrate the 

 one hundredth anniversary of our existence. The charter 

 provides that the society is incorporated "for the purpose of 

 encouraging and improving the science and practice of horti- 

 culture, and promoting the amelioration of the various species 

 of trees, fruits, plants and vegetables, and the introduction 

 of new species and varieties." This society is now working 

 for the development of vegetables, fruits and flowers, and is 

 doing all it can to encourage interest and progress in these 

 subjects. 



Many interesting events are interwoven with the history of 

 the society, but no one more important event, to the society 

 at least, than the enterprise shown in 1831, two years after 

 the organization, when the society purchased at Mount Auburn, 



