212 MASSACHUSETTS IIORTICULXUKAL SOCIETT. 



want as far as we can. We may go on exhibiting, but until we teach 

 people how to produce the fruits and tiowers and vegetables liere 

 disphiyed, we have failed of the greatest results. 



Joini G. Barker expressed his appro\*al of what j\Ir. Beard had 

 said. As instancing the need of information, he said that he saw 

 at the excellent agricultural exhil)ition at Asliby, last autumn, 

 Clapp's Favorite pears, marked Pound ! At the exhibition of tlie 

 Houghton Horticultural Society at L3'nn, begonias were marked 

 bignouias ; and other plants had equally incorrect names aflixed. 

 Cultivators have catalogues from which they might obtain the cor- 

 rect names, but they will not take the trouVile. He suggested that 

 this society might send delegates to the local societies, who sliould 

 note such errors as he had mentioned, and impart the infornuitio'i 

 needed for the correct naming of the productions exhibited. As 

 superintendent of Pine Grove Cemetery at Lynn, he was glad to give 

 information to all who visit it ; but he had not thought it proper 

 to label plants there. He thought that the information acquired 

 at the cemetery in regard to plants, shrubs, and trees had had a 

 marked influence on those who had laid out grounds since he had 

 been superintendent, and that, if those who have the care of public 

 grounds would take the time and pains to give information to per- 

 sons asking it, it would have a good iutlueuce. 



Mr. Had wen said that he could recollect very well the first exhi- 

 bition of the Worcester County Horticultural Society in 1840 ; at 

 which there were ver}' few fruits correctly named. He also re- 

 membered when the only flowers generally seen were a few varie- 

 ties of roses in June, and the tiger lily in autumn, but now he sees 

 a great variety of flowers, and the growers can generall}- tell their 

 names. Ladies have set as good an example as men in growing 

 flowers, both here and at Worcester. Men have given their time 

 to their farms, and consequently have been obliged to leave the 

 cultivation of flowers largely to their wives. Me s*ometimes brings 

 home what he supposes to be a new plant, and Mrs. lladwen tells 

 him her mother had the same thing fifty years ago. 



Mr. Wilder said that we are very much indebted to ladies for 

 the improvement api)areut in the cultivation of flowers. He spoke 

 of the time, very early in the history of this Society, when it was 

 proposed to elect Mrs. Gore, wife of the Governor of this State, 

 and Mrs. GrifBth, of New Jersey, honorary members, but some 

 thought the proposition of doubtful expediency, because a woman 



