44 TRANSACTIONS OF THE SOCIETY. 



fair growth and very full of thorns, and appears to be a cross of (between) 

 the old St. Germain and St. Michael, as it resembles both of them in wood, 

 foliage, and fruit ; and there is no other variety in the neighborhood of it. 

 "We intended to have sent the fruit to Boston last year, but were disap- 

 pointed. We call it the Lawrence pear. 



Respectfully, 



WILCOMB & KING. 



The Committee of Fruits, on trial of the specimens, were of the opinion 

 that the fruit might be classed with the very best pears, and on further 

 trial of specimens sent (autumn, 1845) from the same tree, they are still 

 of the opinion that it should be classed as Jirst in quality. 



Meeting of the Society, January 6, 1844. 



A letter was read from Col. Van Mons, of Brussels, accompanying 

 which were copies of a historical notice of Dr. Van Mons, presented by 

 Col. Van Mons to the Society. A vote of thanks was passed, and the Cor- 

 responding Secretary was authorized to transmit the same to Col. Van 

 Mons, with a letter of condolence on the death of his father. 



The President, from the Committee appointed by a vote of the Society, 

 on the 19th August, 1843, to contract for a building, or building lot, if 

 either should present itself, reported that the Society had purchased the es- 

 tate belonging to the city of Boston, known as the Latin School House, in 

 School Street, containing 2952 feet of land, with the building thereon, for 

 the sum of Eighteen Thousand Dollars. 



The report of the Committee was accepted, and a vote passed thanking 

 the Committee for their attention to the subject, and the acceptable man- 

 ner in which they had performed their duties ; it was thereupon Voted, That 

 Messrs. M. P. Wilder, Samuel Walker, J. E. Teschemacher, S. R. John- 

 son, Josiah Slickney, J. J. Low, B. V. French, E. M. Richards, C. M. 

 Hovey, F. W. Macondry, Cheever Newhall, H. W Button, and Joseph 

 Breck, constitute the Building Committee, to take charge of the alterations 

 and improvements of the premises lately purchased by the Society, and 

 that the said Committee be further directed to apply to the General Court 

 for further powers to hold real estate. 



A letter was read from Prof. Fischer, of St. Petersburg, which accompa- 

 nied a donation of seeds for the Society. 



The thanks of the Society were voted to Prof. Fischer. 



The seeds were placed in the hands of Prof. Russell, to be assorted and 

 reported on at a future meeting. 



