78 MASSACHUSETTS HOETICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Hon. Marshall P. "Wilder, Chairman of the Committee appointed 

 at the last meeting to prepare resolutions in memory of Charles 

 Downing, presented a report, which he introduced with the fol- 

 lowing remarks : — 



Mr. President: — I hold in my hand the resolutions which have 

 been prepared in memory of the late Charles Downing ; but I ask 

 the privilege of offering a few remarks as my tribute to his memory 

 before presenting them. The decease of Mr. Downing is to me a 

 most afflictive event. He and I were associated together for nearly' 

 half a centurj^ in efforts to advance the pomology of our countr}-. 

 Succeeding, as he did, his brother, A. J. Downing, whose eulogy 

 it was my sad duty to pronounce thirt3--two ^ears ago, he became 

 the author of the " Fruits and Fruit Trees of America," all the edi- 

 tions of which have been dedicated to my name from the first. 

 These circumstances have drawn us more and more closel}^ together 

 by the ties of affection and friendly regard. I knew him well, and 

 I can truly say I never knew a more truthful, conscientious, and 

 upright man in all the relations of life. As a pomologist he was 

 world renowned for his knowledge, accurac}^, and gooil judgment, 

 and he has had a longer experience in the stud}' of fruits than any 

 other man of whom I have any record, either in this or any other 

 country. His books will ever be precious memorials of good fruits 

 and good men, — of a life whose great object was to make others happy 

 in the enjoyment of the beauties and bounties of creation. Charles 

 Downing is gone, but his name will live in the hearts of grateful 

 millions as a benefactor of mankind. Ere long I shall follow him ; 

 but I fond!}' trust that we shall meet again in those celestial realms 

 where we may gather fruits from the trees of life, that perish not 

 with the using. Oh, 3'es ! there is another life above, where we 

 ma}' meet the friends we love. 



The resolutions were then read as follows : — 



Resolved, That the members of the Massachusetts Horticultural 

 Society desire to express at the earliest opportunity their sorrow 

 at the removal from earth of their late friend and Corresponding 

 Member, Charles Downing, of Newburg, N. Y. 



Resolved, That his life has been a blessing to mankind, and 

 that his death is a loss not only to our nation but to the whole 

 pomological world. 



