1892.] FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY. 33 



3d, That the sum of $250.00 be appropriated towards the 

 cost of such celebration : 

 And that the Committee be invested with full power to 

 proceed and consummate all arrangements. 

 AH which votes were unanimously adopted. 



The morning of March 3d, dawned dark and gloomy. One 

 of those storms that are christened by the expressive title 

 blizzard, threatened to blast the hopes that had so long antici- 

 pated their perfect fruition on that day. But, nothing daunted, 

 an audience, " fit though few," gathered to listen to the address 

 of the President. 



A little after 3 o'clock the invited guests were escorted to the 

 platform in the main hall by James Draper, chairman of the 

 reception committee and master of ceremonies for the occasion. 

 Those on the platform included President Henry L. Parker, 

 Secretary E. W. Lincoln, Vice-President O. B. Hadwen, Mayor 

 F. A. Harrington, Col. Daniel Needham of Groton, President 

 of the New England Society ; Secretary Wm. R. Sessions of the 

 State Board of Agriculture ; Secretary Robert Manning of the 

 Massachusetts Horticultural Society ; Dr. George A. Bowen of 

 Moosup, Conn., master of the Connecticut State Grange; E. W. 

 Wood of Newton, chairman of the fruit committee of the Massa- 

 chusetts Horticultural Society; President George Cruickshanks 

 of the Worcester North Agricultural Society, of Fitchburg; 

 Dr. H. T. Fuller, President of tlie Worcester County Polytechnic 

 Institute ; Librarian S. S. Green of the Worcester Free Public 

 Library ; Stephen Salisbury, Wm. T. Merrifield, Editor George 

 M. Whittaker of the JVeio England Farmer of Boston ; J. G. 

 Barker, superintendent of the Forest Hills cemetery of Boston. 

 The front of the platform was decorated with Jiandsorae 

 flowers, palms and rare tropical plants from the greenhouses of 

 Stephen Salisbury, Esq. 



At 3.15 the meeting was called to order by O. B. Hadwen, in 

 behalf of the Committee on Plan and Scope, with the following 

 introductory 



