128 MASSACnUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



ADDRESSES 



DELIVERED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING, JANUARY 7, 1871. 



ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT JAMES F. C. HYDE. 



Upon retiring from the office of President of the Society, Mr. Hyde 

 delivered the following address: — 



Members of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society:— 



Four years have quickly passed since I assumed the duties of this re- 

 sponsible position. 



During this time entire harmony has prevailed in the Society, and 

 its progress has been marked with a good degree of success. At the 

 commencement of ray term of office, there was a debt of one himdred 

 thousand dollars, secured by mortgage resting upon this property, which 

 has been reduced some fifteen thousand dollars, while our floating debt, 

 that amounted to thirty-live thousand dollars in January, 1867, has boon 

 eutirely extinguished. A variety of circumstances, it is true, have con- 

 tributed to this happy result, but we are largely indebted to our very 

 able Financial Committee, and our self sacrificing Superintendent and 

 Treasurer; and these friends are deserving our sincere thanks and grate- 

 ful remembrance for their successful labors. We have also made a good 

 increase in the list of membership, though not so great as we had hoped. 

 The whole number at the present time is one thousand and fourteen. 



Within the term of my official service, through the generosity of one 

 of our honored Ex-Presidcntw, our library has been placed in a most 

 prosperous condition, and ample provision made fcjr its future nccc>!>itios. 



The appropriations have been largely increased to meet the constantly 

 increasing competition for premiums, and we hesitate not to say, that 

 never in the history of the Society have so many boeu awarded as dur- 

 ing the season just closi'd. This is very encouraging, for it is by i^liarp 

 competition that our cultivators are spurred on to increased ellbrts. 



The honor of constructing and dedicating our new building was en- 

 joyed by my distinguished predecessor, and little remained for me but to 

 help care for and keep the same in good condition. 



Our beauliful home has become the weekly, I may almof^^t say daily le 

 sort of many interested in the science of horticulture, and it seems dos- 



