1887.] TRANSACTIONS. 25 



especial privilege. For, with one or two rare exceptions, through- 

 out the entire world, it should be our pride ever to hear in mind 

 that Horticulture first assumed a noteworthy position in this our 

 goodly County; and that the original assumption of a prominent 

 place has been always since, and in every way justified by its 

 fruits, wherefrora was it the assurance of old should come knowl- 

 edge. Our means, prudently husbanded, are ample for all ap- 

 propriate purposes. We can afford premiums when they answer 

 their ends without a resort to side-shows of cuttle-fish or mer- 

 maid. If our Exhibitions shall be found to fail of their object 

 (which is not to distribute so much net income !) it will be prac- 

 ticable, as it will become expedient, to do our particular share 

 towards perfecting that university of local ambition, by resuming 

 to ourselves the peculiar chairs of Botany (inclusive of Pomo- 

 logy), to a certain extent, and with some degree of heedlessness, 

 of recent years neglected, if not abandoned. 



But Twenty-six Honorary Me7nhers\x?kVQ, been enrolled by this 

 Society throughout its existence of well-nigh a Half-Century. Of 

 that limited number Ten survive ; two, — and they among the 

 most eminent, having been taken from us during the past year. 

 It were needless here to pay a tribute of commendation to 

 Marshall F. Wilder, or Charles M. Hovey, so fittingly has it 

 been done elsewhere, — so widely and well were they known. Yet 

 it is due to Charles M. Hovey to state that the value of his la- 

 bors to Horticulture in Massachusetts, can never be exaggerated. 

 His Magazine — conducted almost unaided ; maintained without 

 adequate encouragement; became yet by the force of his resolute 

 will and the scope of his individual intelligence, a most potent 

 agent for preserving and diflfusing all sound floral and pomologl- 

 cal knowledge. Commenced when there was most need of it, that 

 publication saw the birth and death of many pretentious rivals ; 

 and only terminated its own career when its appointed work was 

 largely accomplished. The perusal of its earlier numbers was 

 one of my youthful enjoyments. Nor can I doubt that it must 

 have been from a " carousal"* of those pages that the " farm- 



A *" And now,"— said old Gen. Burbank,— " We will carouse the Spy I" 



E. W. L. 



