ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT PARKMAN. • 7 



of whom still honor us by their presence ; and long may they 

 remain with us. The means of usefulness and influence at the 

 disposal of this society far surpass those of other societies, I 

 will n(;t say in our own country, where horticultural organiza- 

 tions are still young, but in England itself, where the art of 

 gardening- has been cultivated so long and so successfully. 

 Thanks to the generosity of our benefactors, and the skill and 

 foresight of those who formed and guided us, we ai-e in posses- 

 sion of a large funded property, yielding an ample revenue ; 

 while the Royal Horticultural Societj' of London, which has 

 accomplished so much, has no fund for its support, and depends 

 on the yearly assessment of its members. Under the faithful 

 and able administration of those to whose keeping it is entrusted, 

 the property of our society increases steadily, and with it, its 

 means of answering the intentions of its founders and the just 

 expectations of the public. 



Now, with all these resources, what has the society done? 

 The society has done a great deal. None other in the country 

 has done more, — perhaps none has done so much, — to kindle 

 and to gratify horticultural tastes, and this by influences both 

 direct and indirect ; for it has become the parent of many local 

 societies, each a centre of influence. Not only has it diff'used 

 the love of fruits, flowers, and gardens, but it has exercised an 

 elevating influence on horticulture as a profession ; for commer- 

 cial gardening has this great advantage over most other forms 

 of trade, that in it the love of art is married to the pursuit of 

 profit, and this love of gardening for its own sake, as well as 

 for what it will bring, has received a powerful stimulus in these 

 halls. "Witness the increasing zeal for the importation and 

 production of new varieties, and the increasing emulation in the 

 display of well-grown specimens which our exhibitions constantly 

 evince. We have done much ; but far more remains to do. 

 The great resources in our hands, used with a judicious and 

 discriminating liberality, will secure for us in American horticul- 

 ture a preeminent place of honor and influence. Our numbers are 

 great, but it is not our numbers ; our wealth is great, but it is 

 not our wealth alone that can lift us to the height of our jjossible 

 destiny. It is the spirit in which our means are used, and the 

 wisdom that guides us in their use. The great function of this 

 society is to recognize and to requite with honor and profit every 



