MR. hovey's address. 85 



mittee, when you placed unreservedly all the available funds of the Soci- 

 ety at their disposal; or ask for a more hearty co-operation in all the 

 varied changes which brought the structure to its final completion. I 

 have to thank you for this and other re^Deated acts of approval and ap- 

 probation. 



The Society's Hall will compare favorably with any similar edifice in 

 the United States — and as a single isolated building, complete in itself, 

 it will, I think, be difficult to find its equal. Its interior accommodations 

 are no less perfect than its exterior design and finish, and without know- 

 ing the views of the members, generall}', I can only affirm that if the 

 means wei'e now at our command, I know not that it could be material- 

 ly altered or improved without additional ground. It is true some have 

 thought there was a want of room ; but this could only be had by our 

 extension to the rear, which it was not then, though it may hereafter be, 

 in the power of the Society to do. It was a matter, however, by no 

 means, overlooked. 



And here, gentlemen, I must detain you for a moment in regard to 

 our Hall. Beautifi51 as the M'ell known skill and taste of our architects 

 who designed it could make it, within our means, its crowning charac- 

 teristic, which, more than anything else, typifies it as the Temple of 

 Horticulture, belongs to the elegant statues which dignify and adorn its 

 beautiful front. But they typify more than this; they reflect not only 

 the wealth which is ever ready to aid meritorious works, but the taste 

 which is now, happily, the frequent accompaniment of it. To the 

 princely merchants, M'hose only garden is the crowded avenue of the 

 noisy city — whose only flowers are the long lines of figures in the ledger 

 and bank book, and whose daily works are confined to the dusty count- 

 ing room — as well as the retired gentleman, Avhose beautiful grounds 

 exhibit so many of the beauties of nature embellished by art, — are we 

 indebted for generous acts, materially strengthening the position of the 

 Society; but more particularly for the gift of the graceful Statues of 

 Ceres, Pomona, and Flora. These enduring monuments of their gener- 

 osity will keep their names ever fresh in our memory. 



The possession of a new building of so much larger proportions, has 

 naturally resulted in a change in the details of management; and in or- 

 der to accomplish all the great results wtiich the increased facilities of 

 the Society afford, and which were in part foreseen by your Building and 

 Finance Committees, it was found expedient and desirable to revise the 

 By-Laws to conform to the new state of things. This was not done, how- 

 ever, only after long and mature deliberation, and the alterations which 

 have been made, will, I have no doubt, work to the entire satisfaction of 

 every member, and add greatly to the income of the Society. All must 

 admit that such a valuable property as the Society now possesses, should 

 be placed in the hands, or under the care of, a responsible superintend- 



