THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 151 



in Massacliusetts. I therefore recommend, in accordance with the 

 report of the committee appointed to consider this subject (wliich 

 will be hereafter submitted to you), that this legacy be passed into 

 the hands of the Society for the Promotion of Agriculture. 



In the recent Report of the Fruit Committee, it is recommended 

 that all our prizes be open to the public for free competition. 

 Knowing the aim of our members to be excellence and advance- 

 ment, rather than the obtaining of prize-money under the least 

 appearance of favor, I trust we shall give a fair trial to the plan pro- 

 posed by the Committee ; and I recommend that the By-laws be so 

 amended as to permit free competition for prizes. 



In accordance with suggestions made upon assuming my office 

 a year ago, a committee was appointed to consider the expediency 

 of establishing a course of discussions and lectures connected with 

 our art. As a result, two discussions have been held, which were 

 of decided interest, and were an index that much might be done in 

 this direction. An alteration in the By-laws has also been made, 

 providing for a Standing Committee on Lectures and Discussions. 

 In my opinion, the work of this Committee is to be of very great 

 importance to the Society and to the public. It is in a new and 

 wide field where there is manifest want. Our present work is so 

 systematized, and become a matter of quiet routine, that we may 

 undervalue its importance. We are familiar with the distribution 

 of prize-money, and the constant stimulus which is given by this 

 honorable competition ; yet it is doubtful if we realize how far. 

 reaching has been this influence. 



Largely from this cause has resulted the fact, that there is a wider 

 and more general distribution of the various fruits among all 

 classes in Eastern Massachusetts than in any other portion of our 

 country; and possibly we may extend the comparison to any coun- 

 try. Of course, we do not refer to the extensive orchards in other 

 sections, to local communities of fruit-growers, or to the bountiful 

 prodigality of Nature in particular fruits in favored localities. 

 What we do affirm is this, — that our thousands of freeholds, extend- 

 ing from a quarter of an acre up to the ample estate, are, to a good 

 degree, supplied with the various kinds of fruits, and that this is in 

 marked contrast with the homes in other portions of our country 

 and in Europe. Our Society has done a most important work in 

 stimulating a general love of culture, and in increasing the extent 

 of planting upon our small homesteads. Still very much remains 

 to be done, not only in encouraging a much greater extent in plant- 

 ing, but more especially in raising the standard of cidtivation ; 



