30 WORCESTER COUNTY HOUTICULTUHAL SOCIETY. [1871. 



The tables having been relieved in a measure of their abundance, 

 Col. Richardson asked the attention of the audience to the following 

 letter from an honored meml)er of the society, ex-Gov. Bullock : 



GOV. bullock's lettek. 



Elm Street, Sept. 25, 1871. 



My Dear Sir : — I much regret that I cannot be in town at the time 

 of the Horticultural Banquet to which you kindly invite me, and that 

 I therefore shall lose the high enjoyments of that occasion. I con- 

 gratulate you and all the members that at the end of a period about 

 eijual to that which is usually assigned to a whole generation of men, 

 our society can survey such a tield of l)eneficence and beauty, grown 

 up under the culture of its hand, and that it can look hopefullj^ forward 

 to yet richer fruit of its labors in the future years. 



1 especially wish 1 might be with you at the feast, to express there 

 how profoundly in my judgment the whole country is under obliga- 

 tions to the distinguished gentleman who has consented to honor our 

 tables b}'' his presence. Of course I allude to the Hon. Marshall P. 

 Wilder. For him, and for his remarkable labors in this field of 

 culture, I ma}' safely bespeak your cordial plaudits. Four years ago 

 it was my opportunity to express this sense of a common gratitude in 

 the presence of a thousand ladies and gentlemen in the county of 

 Suftblk, over whom he presided, and who manifested their enthusiastic 

 accord with the sentiment. I would say now, as then, tliat Mr. 

 Wilder has applied the results of well-earned commercial fortune to 

 the development of the capacities of the earth and sky, so wisely and 

 so liberally, that in every household and at every fireside in America, 

 where the golden fruit of summer and autumn gladdens the side- 

 board or hearthstone, his name, his generosity, and his services are 

 known and honored. 



With great respect and esteem, 



I remain your obedient servant. 



ALEX. H. BULLOCK. 



The Hon. G. W. Richardson, President, &c. 



Hon. Marshall P. Wilder, having been called up by a complimen- 

 tary speech from Col. Richardson, was received with applause as he rose 

 to speak, and listened to with interest through the course of his 

 remarks, which were very brief. He began by saying that the AVor- 

 cester County Horticultural Society, might justly be called a compeer 



