190 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



endeavors to multipl}- these comforts and luxuries of life. Let us 

 work on and ^vin : 



"Give new endeavors to the mystic art, 

 Try every scheme, and riper views impart; 

 Who linows what meed our labors may await, 

 What glorious fruits our conquests maj' create?" 



These are conquests worthy of the most refined and benevolent 

 enterprise, — the conquest of mind over matter, the dominion of 

 man over Nature, assisting, improving and controlling her in one 

 of the most beautiful and wonder-working operations for which 

 she was ordained. These are triumphs worthy of the most exalted 

 ambition, — triumphs that leave no sting in the heart of memory, 

 no stain on the wing of time. I would rather be the man who 

 shall originate a luscious fruit suited to cultivation throughout 

 our land, of which successive generations shall partake, long after 

 I shall have been consigned to the bosom of mother earth, than to 

 wear the croAvn of the proudest conqueror who has ever triumphed 

 over his fellow-men. 



The science of hybridization is in its infancy in this country ; 

 but if our cultivators, and especially the members of the Massa- 

 chusetts Horticultural Society, would unite in efforts to promote 

 this branch of knowledge, we should, in coming time, possess not 

 only trees and plants specially adapted to every section of New 

 England, but also fruits equal in excellence to those of any other 

 section of our country. If the members of the Society could pro- 

 duce onl}' one new fruit annually, suited for general cultivation 

 over a wide extent of territory, like the Bartlett, the Beurre 

 d'Anjou or Clapp's Favorite pear, the Baldwin, the Rhode Island 

 Greening and the Williams' Favorite apple, it would be worth 

 more to the country than the expense of sustaining all the horti- 

 cultural societies in the United States for fift}- years to come. 



We have but just entered the field which we are to cultivate 

 and gathered a few first fruits of the bountiful harvest which is to 

 reward our endeavors. When we reflect upon the success which 

 has attended the growth of particular fruits and flowers since the 

 establishment of this Society ; upon the obstacles over which 

 scienoe and practical skill have already triumphed ; upon the 

 intelligence and enterprise of our members, — we surely have 

 cause for renewed diligence and encouragement in the good work. 



