124 TRANSACTIONS OF THE SOCIETY. 



time, whose talents, and whose money, were given with a perfect prodi- 

 gality to the spread of information upon every branch of horticulture. His 

 published essays and papers in the IMemoirs of the Massachusetts Agricul- 

 tural Society, are known only to a portion of our members, — through his 

 agency a correspondence was opened with Mr. Knight, and many of the 

 varieties of fruit we now most esteem, were received, reared and dissemi- 

 nated by him. Next comes the name of the late Judge Buel, whose zeal 

 and practical knowledge, united to a sincere enthusiasm, enabled him to 

 impart a vast amount of information through his Cultivator. Then we 

 have our own Fessenden, less practical, but not less influential in promot- 

 ing a taste for horticulture in our immediate vicinity. The memory of 

 these will long continue to inspire others to equally useful results. 



But, Mr. President, casting our eye on the other side, we see foremost, 

 and in bold relief, the name of Loudon, — he who sacrificed a life to the 

 science of gardening. I would, sir, that I had the power to delineate and 

 properly set forth the immense services which he rendered, not only to hor- 

 ticulture, but to every thing which pertains to the necessities, the comforts, 

 the luxuries, or the refinements of life. His works embrace Agriculture, 

 Horticulture, Arboriculture, Botany, Landscape Gardening, Architecture, 

 and Rural Improvement, and exceed those of any other writer, — indeed, 

 he might be called the Walter Scott of horticultural literature. It is to his 

 exertions that the present state of gardening, throughout the world, is 

 greatly indebted. AVith an independent spirit, he at once struck out a new 

 path, and opened new sources of pleasure to those who had followed the 

 beaten track of their predecessors. To him belongs the credit of popular- 

 izing and rendering familiar a science, long thought to consist wholly in 

 the mere routine duties of the field and kitchen garden. No monument 

 could more truly commemorate his life-long labors, than the great work 

 which occupied the last ten years of his life, and to the completion of winch 

 he sacrificed his fortune and his time. 



Mr. President, — I will not prolong my remarks at this late hour. To the 

 great object of disseminating information on the high pursuit of horticul- 

 ture, our labors have long been, and we hope will long continue to be, 

 devoted. If we succeed in awakening that latent love of flowers and 

 fruits, which is implanted in almost every human being, we shall feel that 

 we have not toiled in vain. I will, therefore, give you this sentiment, — 



The Triumphs of Horticulture, — To open one new source of intel- 

 lectual enjoyment, — to add one refinement to the heart. 

 By Hon. Isaac Livermore : — 



Our Tables, — The delicious bounties which crown them, surpassed only 

 by the exquisite beauties which surround them. 



The President then left the Chair, which was as.sumed by Hon. B. V. 

 French, Vice President of the Society, who offered the following : — 



