132 MASSACHUSETTS nOUTICULTURAL SOCIKTT. 



the oldor v.irit'lic^ must susl;iin a good character, if they wouid hope to 

 meet with I'avor. 



I have alhidi'd to this sul)ject because our exliilutions have been tlie 

 prominent feature in our past history. And they will continue so to be; 

 they have an influence and a value far beyond the mere adjustment of 

 merit of dilfi-rent varieties. The stimulus which has been given, by our 

 weekly and annual gatherings, has resulted in giving an impress, more 

 or less marked, ui)on almost every New England home. But it is true 

 that these exhibitions have not the relative importance as at first, for 

 the reason which has been suggested, and also because we recognize 

 multitudes of local societies doing a like good work with us. It be- 

 comes an important question hew we cannot only maintain, but, if posi- 

 sible, increase our influence as good stewards of the advantages be- 

 queathed to us. The public has a right to demand that this .Society 

 shall be a power for good. 



Looking over the early records I find that, at the first festival, the 

 first sentiment was ofiered by lion. John Lowell, and as you will read- 

 ily believe, his woi'ds deserve careful consideration now as at the first. 

 The sentiment wa-s as follows: " The Massachusetts Horticultural So- 

 ciety: I give it welcome as thepj'Oj)er means, the ^c.si means, the only 

 means of concentrating the individual skill of our excellent and intelli- 

 gent cultivators. May its success equal my hopes, it cannot exceed them." 

 Mr. Lowell seems to have discerned the real source of our power, 

 in concentating the individual skill of our members, so that, from this 

 focus of experience, light might be diffused. The same thought must 

 have been in the minds of other members, for w^e find in the first sched- 

 ule of prizes the following, viz. : 



" To the person who shall offer to the Society^, at the anniial meeting 

 in September, the best treatise, in manuscripts, on the cultivation and 

 management of fruit trees, a premium of ^5. 



A similar i)remium was offered for the best treatise on any one or more 

 of the insects that attack fruit trees, with the best methods of prevent- 

 ing or destroying the same; also another premium for the best treatise 

 upon the diseases of fruit trees. 



Evidently, then, it was intended that experiments would lie made, theo- 

 ries would be broached, and facts brought to light which would become 

 the projierty of the Society, and which would be worthy of puldication- 

 Taking into consideration the large exj)erience, the general intelli- 

 gence, and in the case of quite a number, the scientific altainnu-nls of 

 our members, I ask if as large re^dts have followed, in this direction, as 

 might have been reasonably expected? We arc well aware that niiieh 

 has been done by individual comparisons, much which is not recorded 

 (ixcept in the Magazines of Horticulture; yet the question remains, has 

 this Society as a Society exercised its full power? Considering our some- 

 what remarkable advantages, our attractive home, so centriil and acces- 



