10 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



tors, your Society is entitled to a legacy of three thousand dollars, this 

 sum to be held in trust and the income therefrom expended in prizes for 

 the best specimens of such fruit or vegetables as may be selected by your 

 Trustees, the trust to be known as the "Benjamin V. French Fvuid'"; and 

 also to a legacy of five thousand dollars, this sum to be held in trust and 

 the income therefrom distriliuted in prizes for such specimens of flora as 

 your Trustees may select, this trust to be known as the "John Allen 

 French Fund." 



The executors are about to close the estate but before paying these 

 legacies to you they desire your Society to pass as soon as possible a vote 

 in substantially the fonn herewith enclosed, and send a copy of the same 

 to the executors. 



Yours truly, 



Otis Norcross, 



for self and co-Ex 'rs. 



Estate of Charles E. French. 



I have spoken of the various means of increasing our income. 

 As to decreasing our expenses, it seems to me that we might reduce 

 both the number and the amount of our cash prizes, and give cer- 

 tificates of merit, or medals, which wouhl not be so expensive. 

 Tliis, I iniderstand, is in Hne with the work of the most successful 

 horticultural societies abroad. I hope this will receive the earnest 

 attention of your Trustees. 



We have lost by death during the year twenty-six life and annual 

 members, three honorary, and two corresponding members. Many 

 of these have served in years past on committees, and in other ways 

 have been actively interested in the work of the Society. 



Among them we may especially call to mind Benjamin P. Ware 

 of Marblehead, for eight years a Vice President, and a man well 

 known for his strong interest in the agricultural affairs of the state; 

 Professor Nathaniel S. Shaler, the eminent scientist and teacher 

 of Harvard University; Mrs. Charlotte N. S. Horner of George- 

 town, well remembered by frequenters at our exhibitions a genera- 

 tion ago for her displays of native plants; and Mrs. Anna D. 

 Wood of Newton, also held in appreci;)tive remembrance for her 

 floricultural work among us; Samuel Hart well, for twenty-four 

 years a member of the fruit or vegetable committees, and a constant 

 contributor at our exhibitions of fruits and vegetables from his 

 orchard and vineyard at Lincoln; Cephas H. Brackett, formerly 

 of Brighton, a member of the Committee on vegetables from 1883 



