28 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1871. 



The whole arrangement was tasteful in the extreme, reflecting great 

 credit upon Dr. Samuel Flagg, whose labors of love are so untiringly- 

 rendered to the Society. 



The company was conducted to the tables at 8 o'clock, — Messrs. 

 Barnard & Richardson's full orchestra furnishing a musical welcome 

 as it tiled into the hall. Col. Geo. W. Richardson, President of the 

 Societ}', occupied the seat of lionor, while on his right and left were 

 Hon. Marshall P. Wilder of Boston, President of the Massachusetts 

 Horticultural Society, and Dr. George B. Loring, President of the 

 New England Agricultural Society. Past and present officers of the 

 Worcester Society, most of them seated at the table on the platforin, 

 showed their interest by being present, among them Mayor Earle, one 

 of the Trustees, and Ex-Presidents Stephen SaUsbury, John Milton 

 Earle, D. Waldo Lincoln, Francis H. Dewey, J. Henry Hill, and 

 George Jaques, Ex-Secretarj^ Samuel F. Haven, Samuel H. Colton, 

 the Treasurer, George E. Francis the Secretary, and the venerable 

 Anthony Chase, one of the original corporators. The assembly 

 included a general representation of the Horticultural and Agricul- 

 tural interests in tliis vicinity, as well as of the wealth and character 

 of Worcester. In this respect the gathering was indeed remarkable. 

 A noticeable charm, one indeed which has always crowned the Festivals 

 of this society, was the conspicuous and welcome presence of ladies. 



In extending an official and formal welcome to the assembled 

 guests, Col. Richardson spoke Jis follows : — 



ADDRESS OF HON. GEO. W. RICHARDSON. 



Ladles and Gentlemen of the Worcester County Horticultural 

 Society : — It is my pleasant duty, surrounded as I am by these mag- 

 nates of Horticulture and distinguished citizens, to welcome you to 

 this banquet and to this hall wliich is empliatically your own. This 

 Society, incorporated in 1842 by the Legislature of Massachusetts, with 

 the right to hold real estate to the amount of $1500, is now the 

 owner of this valuable hall in which we are assembled, and stores 

 under it, wliich are worth at least $50,000, and owes no man (and I 

 must say in these days) or woman, a dollar. Surely, it is a time for 

 rejoicing ; surely, it is a suitable time for a banquet. 



The four original corporators mentioned in the act were John 

 Green, Anthony Cliase, F. W. Paine and G. W. Richardson. John 

 Green was the first president, Anthony Chase was the first librarian, 

 and F. W. Paine the first treasurer. Mr. Paine was a constant and 



