54 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICDLTtJRAL SOCIETY. [1892. 



At the close of the address the President said : — 

 The Massachusetts Society lias been the pioneer society in Hor- 

 ticulture in New England, if not in the whole United States, it 

 havinor been incorporated earlier than any other which since its 

 incorporation has had a continuous active existence. This Society 

 has taken it for its example and followed in its train, though 

 "not with equal steps." At our first organization we were in- 

 debted to the Massachusetts for aid and comfort, and to many 

 of its members for contributions to its earliest exhibitions. 

 The son of one of these early contributors, Mr. Robert Manning 

 of Salem, now Secretary of the Massachusetts, is present as our 

 guest and will address you as a representative of that Society. 



ADDRESS BY MR. MANNING. 



Mt. President; Ladies and Gentlemen of the Worcester County 

 Horticultural Society : — 



I am glad to be with you on this auspicious occasion and to be 

 the bearer of the congratulations of the Masachusetts Horticul- 

 tural Society on the results achieved by your Society in the fifty 

 years of its existence, and its good wishes for your future pros- 

 perity. But I regret that the President of our Society is unable 

 to be present and speak for it better than I can. 



I am pleased, Mr. President, that in your interesting historical 

 address you have recognized the assistance and support given by 

 the Massachusetts Horticultural Society to your Society in its 

 earliest days. I believe our Society has always been ready to 

 promote the objects for which it was organized by answering the 

 calls of new societies for advice and assistance, and nothing gives 

 me more pleasure now than to answer such calls as far as is in 

 my power. And I would remember here that we have been glad 

 to adopt ideas which have originated with you. 



As I have listened to your address, Mr. President, I have been 

 struck with the parallelism in the progress of the two societies, 

 especially in the financial department, both beginning with small 

 means, husbanded with true New England thrift, until, as the 

 result, you have this hall, so commodious and convenient in all its 

 appointments and elegant yet tasteful in its decorations. The 



