\A0 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICUI-TURAI, SOCIETY. 



•iijicharjrc of the various duties that have devolved upon them. The 

 voars are past and gone, the record made uj) and cannot now be 

 iliangcd. 



It is gratifying to me to know tliat entire peace and goodwill has pre- 

 vailed, and does still prevail in our ranks, and that, with all our prosper- 

 ity, no root of bitterness has sprung up to alienate any. I am also 

 pleased to know that this position is to be occupied by one well fitted to 

 reflect honor ujion the Society that has honored him and itself by his 

 imanimous election. 



And now, gentlemen, as I leave this position and bid you a final 

 adieu, as President, permit me to welcome to this chair, my most excel- 

 lent friend Strong, who. I believe, will fill the place more acceptably to 

 you than I hav3 been able to do. 



ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT WILLIAM C. STROXG. 



Mr. Strong was conducted to the chair, and. being introduced to the 

 Society as its President, responded by delivering the following address: 



Gentlemen: — 



We cannot, and surely we would not forget that this Society was or- 

 ganized l)y men of enlarged views, of generous culture and of high so- 

 cial influence. It has been its good fortune to remain under the control 

 of such men from its earliest days down to the present time. A goodly 

 number of these, our fathers, who have beeu familiar with, and who 

 have had an active influence in the history of our Society almost from 

 its beginning, are spared to us and are present with us to-day. It is 

 theretbre to be expected that our esteemed retiring President should 

 be able to present a statement so just and so satisfactory, of our high 

 j)<)sition, our general prosperity, the entire harmony and the cheering 

 future prospects of the Society. Such men in ,s)tt7i a cause must, of ne- 

 cessity, produce such results. I need not assure you that I appreciate 

 the honor in being called to occupy a chair which has been so worthily 

 Idled, and to preside overyour deliberations during the year upon which 

 we have entered. It would have beeu no less gratifying to me than to 

 you all, if others to whom the Society has been so largely indebted for 

 wisdom in counsel, and for pecuniary aid, had consented to occupy the 

 position which I now fill. JJut since this may not be, I can only state 

 to you my purpose and my pledge, that I will in some measure make 

 good my lack in other respects l)y a devotion of tiin<' and earnest study 

 to know and promote the interests of the Society. 



One of the promineut objects of its formation — which was specially 

 mentioned i:i the act of incorporation— -was to promote the introduction 

 and dissemination of new varieties of fruits and flowers. It is but forty 



