84 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Entering upon the duties of President at a time when the conntry was 

 convulsed with civil war, — when property was considered almost value- 

 less — and our Society retired from its once prominent position to a place 

 scarcely known to the public, — it became a duty, as it was esteemed a 

 pleasure, to exert all the influence at mj"^ command, not only to maintain 

 the Society in the condition in which I found it, but to sjiare no time or 

 effort to give it more vitalit}' and force. Its name was honored — and 

 the memory of its founders revered. The effects of its early organiza- 

 tion were not only apparent in the neat cottage gardens — beautiful villas 

 — suburban r-etreats — and rural avenues everywhere in our neighborhood, 

 but the dead, who have found their last resting place beneath the shady 

 recesses of Mount Auburn, coidd they but speak, would chant the praises 

 of our intelligent and thoughtful predecessors, who, by their wise coun- 

 sels and broad views, conceived and carried out the great enterprise 

 which has established that "Sacred Garden of the Dead," and, in part,' 

 enabled us to rear this Temple, dedicated, forever, to the Science which 

 not only lills our gardens with radiant flowers and our orchards with 



" Fiiirest fruit 

 Blossoms, and fruit at once, of golden hue," 



but adds that crowning grace, of embellishing the earth beneath whose 

 verduroxis turf all of us must some day slumber, with leafy boAvers, 

 under whose shade we may linger, seeking consolation for the lost and 

 loved. How strongly — yes, how vividly are we reminded of the great 

 achievement of establishing a cemetery as we survey the old burial 

 ground immediately before us, and contrast it Avith the diversified sur- 

 face, — the picturesque aspect and matchless beauty of Mount Auburn, 

 once known as "• Sweet Auburn," the dearly cherished name given by 

 him, who often meditated amid its silent dells, who had chosen it for 

 his home, Imt who surrendered it for our use, 



" Sweet smiling village, loveliest of the plain." 



In all that has been accomplished, it is pleasant to record the unanim- 

 ity and zeal with which I have been supported and sustained in all the 

 acts and duties of the four years it has been my lot to preside over you. 

 Success is not to be attributed to me alone, Tiut to my associates who 

 surveyed our position, and with triie courage, determined upon nobler 

 and greater issues. Such pioneers as Dearborn, Lowell, Cook, and 

 others, did not look to the dying out, or even neglect of an association 

 established for the great objects which were the constant pursuit and 

 diligent study of their lives. But bringing to the task intelligence, per- 

 severance atid skill, asserted and maintained the importance of every 

 exertion to develop a taste for Rural Art. None can appreciate more 

 fully than I do, the entire confidence you reposed in the Building Com- 



