TRANSACTIONS 



^MUthmtt^ 'gaximlUix^l ^wndg- 



BUSINESS MEETING. 



Saturday, January 2, 18S6. 



A duly notified stated meeting of the Society was liolden at 11 

 o'clock, the chair being taken by the retiring President, John B. 

 Moore, who delivered the following address : 



Address of President Moore. 



Ladies and Gentlemen of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society: 



It has been the custom of the retiring President to say a few 

 words to you in relation to the condition of the Society, "and its 

 past work. 



I may congratulate the Society upon its prosperity, and in no 

 year has it been more marked than in the year 1885. With the 

 means at command, with their large and valuable library for in- 

 struction and reference, with the improved and perhaps more 

 scientific methods of culture adopted by the members, they ought 

 to have made and certainly have made a great advance in horti- 

 culture from the time of founding this Society. This can be 

 observed in the character and beauty of our exhibitions. 



Among the causes of this prosperity are the lectures, essays, 

 and discussions conducted by the Society ; which have been of a 

 high order, and have given new ideas to our members, and to the 

 public, who have free admission to the lectures and may take part 

 in all the discussions. The character and ability of these papers 

 and discussions have given the Society a high standing, both at 



