40 



TRANSACTIONS OF THE SOCIETY. 



deserve the appellation of "great," which sends forth as her delegates, men 

 whose enterprise developes the natural resources of the country ; whose 

 genius facilitates progress; and whose philanthropy blesses mankind. 



Mr. Stevens, President of the Croton Water Works, rose in reply. He 

 had never before been gratified by such a display of fruit. He said he had 

 heard, through the medium of your paper, and through your Hovey's Mag- 

 azine, of the progress which had been made in horticultural improvement, 

 but until now had not been a witness to the results. Mr. Stevens made 

 many pertinent remarks upon horticultural societies, and commended the 

 labors of the practical gardener, whose occupation it was to produce such 

 splendid specimens as had been presented at the exhibition. He gave as a 

 toast, — 



The Working Gardener. 



The Rev. J. L. Russell rose to make some remarks. He had listened 

 attentively to the observations which had fallen from his Rev. brother, Mr. 

 Choules, and he was glad to have this opportunity to say to him, that here 

 in New England, he need have no fear that his interest in horticultural 

 pursuits would derogate from his profession. He believed that the cultiva- 

 tion of the earth was an ennobling, christianizing occupation ; that its 

 moral effect upon the community was beneficial and good. He spoke at 

 some length on various topics, and concluded with a sentiment. 



The Chairman then gave the following : — 



The Accomplished Gardener, — Uniting science, skill, and taste, with 

 the dexterous and ready hand. 



Mr. Downing, of the Highland Nurseries, Newburg, N. Y., offered a 

 sentiment in reply, which we unfortunately could not procure. 



The following sentiment called out Mr. Meigs, of New York : — 



Home Industry, — The parent and protector of agriculture, commerce, 

 the useful and elegant arts. Our country is leagued to support it ; we need 

 not look abroad for aid, when New York can guide us with such good 

 generalship. 



We shall not endeavor to give even a synopsis of Mr. Meigs's speech, 

 which was humorous and entertaining. It was the first time he had ever 

 been in Boston. For though he was descended from Puritan blood, yet he 

 had never been in this modern Athens before. He concluded with a toast, 

 which, in the merriment that followed his remarks, we forgot to secure. 



Dr. Wight, Recording Secretary, offered the next sentiment, as follows : — 



The Chairman of the Committee of Arrangements, — He is a Walker ; 

 may good fortune blossom around his path, and old age find his granary full. 



Mr. Walker remarked, that although speech-making was not his forte, 

 he should justly be charged with a want of gratitude and courtesy, did he 

 neglect to thank the gentlemen of the Society for their good wishes and 

 repeated acts of kindness towards him. It was fourteen years, he said, 



