TRANSACTIONS OF THE SOCIETY. 127 



much more is he worthy of the name, who, from the austere pear, gives us 

 the melting Dearborn, or from the sour plum the delicious Jefferson ! 



By £. A. Story:— 



Odr Festivals, — Clustering together the products of the Garden and the 

 loveliest gems of Society. 



By H. W. Button .— 



Flo-we-rs, — "Nature's illustrations :" for sweetness- and earnest invoca- 

 tion, better than the illuminated missals of the Pontiff ; " each cup a pulpit, 

 every leaf a book." 



By P. B. Hovey, Jr. :— 



Our Society, — In her onward path to prosperity, may she not forget 

 those who in her infancy watched over and directed her steps to honor and 

 usefulness ! 



By John S. Sleeper, editor of the Boston Journal : — 



Horticulture, — The earliest art, — taught by Angels in the Garden of 

 Eden. No art contributes more to the civilization of society, or the hap- 

 piness of mankind. 



The three splendid Specimens of Architectural Beauty at our 

 RECENT Exhibition, — The Floral Temple, the Pyramid, and the Monu- 

 ment, — Not, as is usual in such cases, — marks of honor to the illustrious 

 dead, — but monuments of praise to their living authors. 



Seed Time and Harvest, — The Alpha and Omega of the cultivator. 

 The seasons of hope and fruition. 



Nature and Art, — Their marriage, the union of Heaven with Earth ; 

 their offspring, civilization and refinement. 



OcR Country, — A garden whose twenty-six parterres afford ample room 

 for the growth of every virtue. In making additions to the domain, may 

 the seeds of vice be eradicated and destroyed. 



The Vegetable World, — A world, the only desire of whose inhabitants 

 is to confer pleasure, and whose only reward a smack of approval. 



By Otis Johnson : — 



The Gifts of Flora, — The emblems of the affections and the vocabu- 

 lary of love. 



" They are love's paper written o'er 

 With various hopes and fears, 

 Their blushes are the smiles of love, 

 And their soft dew love's tears." 



The Absent Friends of this Association, — While they remain behind 

 preparing for a future festival, may we not forget them " while shouting 

 the harvest-home." 



Such were the thoughts advanced on this bright, festal occasion, and 

 uttered in the presence of a vast assembly of brilliant women who graced 



