ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT HENRY P. WALCOTT. 7 



gave to this Society- the great benefit of his financial abilit}', with 

 results far surpassing the mone}- value of the beautiful statue 

 with which he adorned this building. In this Hall, so largely the 

 result of his untiring energ}', he will be long and gratefully re- 

 membered. 



Let me turn for a moment to one* among the living, whose active 

 concern in this Society has spanned, saving a few months, the 

 whole of its existence. Venerable leader of us all — old only by 

 the written record, young in your enthusiasm for our captivating 

 art — long may you be spared to us and to this world of flowers 

 and of fruits. 



Two only of the original members of the Society are now liv- 

 ing, — Henry A. Breed, of Lynn, whose presence we gladly wel- 

 come on this occasion, and John B. Russell, for some time resident 

 in another state. 



The finances of the Society appear to be in a very satisfactory 

 condition. The Treasurer has not yet made up his final report, as 

 the accounts of the Proprietors of Mount Auburn Cemetery will not 

 be ready till later in the month ; but, assuming that we receive the 

 same sum from Mount Auburn that we did in 1885, and this is 

 probable, the gross receipts for the year are (including the balance 

 on hand January 1, 1885) in round numbers $34,330 ; total expen- 

 ditures $17,723. Of the balance, S16.G07, $6,376 have been 

 added to the sinking fund, leaving a balance on hand January 1, 

 1886, of $10,231. 



In September last the American Foresti-y Congress met in this 

 city. In recognition of the necessar}^ and intimate relations be- 

 tween Forestry and Horticulture, this Society gave to the Con- 

 gress the use of these halls ; and also appointed a Committee for 

 the purpose of showing such attentions to the visitors as were 

 within the power of the Society. The courtesies thus offered were 

 warml}' acknowledged. 



The Committees on Fruits and Vegetables report respectively 

 exhibitions of interest fully equal to those of preceding years. The 

 latter committee call attention to the influence of prizes as superior 

 to that of gratuities in a certain class of awards, and it seems to 

 me 'that this conclusion may very properly be extended to awards 

 made at any of the exhibitions. A prize to be awarded for some 

 well-defined, well-understood quality in plant, flower, fruit, or 



*Hon. Marshall P. Wilder. 



