1871.] seceetary's REroRT. 59 



son, Chairman ; 0. B. Hadwen, George Jaques, E. Woodward, 

 Samuel Flagg, G. E Francis. 



Thanks to the energy and zeal of the Chairman of the Committee, 

 and to the artistic skill displaj^ed by Dr. Flagg in planning the deco- 

 rations of the Hall and tables, an entertainment was given in our 

 Hall on the evening of Friday Sept. 29th, which only failed to reach 

 the very summit of success because given in so large a Hall. 



Well chosen words of congratulation and advice from Marshall P. 

 Wilder, and Geo. B. Loring, were mingled with addresses from more 

 familiar friends, while graceful verses in praise of Flora and Pomona 

 were at the last and most fitting moment, by chance discovered in 

 the mysterious depths of a well known judicial pocket. 



The year just finished may fairly be called a prosperous year, well 

 up to the standard at which the Society has been content to aim. But 

 the future of this institution is not dependent solely on the condition 

 of its Treasury, or upon the number and dignity of its members. At 

 the late Banquet some of us listened to reminiscences of the early 

 days of the Society, when the numbers were few and the cash-box 

 often empty. Our present firm foundation no doubt far surpasses the 

 most ambitious hopes of those devoted founders, but surely there is 

 plenty of work yet to be done, and which must be done to keep off 

 death from stagnation. 



Entering as we do this year upon a new era of financial prosj^erity, 

 it may be worth our while to consider some of the needs of the Society. 



In the first place, let us never forget that the fresh enthusiasm of 

 thirty years ago, is gone, and is not likely to return. A whole genera- 

 tion has since grown up, to whom the Horticultural Society appears as 

 immovably fixed as the Old South Church, and the Annual Exhibition 

 as much to be depended upon as the collection of taxes. It has been 

 my good fortune to attend the last seven of these Annual Exhibitions ; 

 during that period, with decided improvement in the merit and attrac- 

 tiveness of the displays, I am convinced that the hearty interest, the 

 enthusiasm of the majority of visitors and contributors, has fallen off 

 in a marked degree. 



It cannot be denied also, that although many names have been 

 added to the list of members in the period referred to, a very small 

 addition has thereby been made to the real working force of the organ- 

 ization ; the young men and women who take active parts in the work 



