TRANSACTIONS 



OF THE 



^tass^duisdls ^attiniltuol ^otitiv. 



BUSINESS MEETING. 



Saturday, January 1, 1887. 



A dul}' notified stated meeting of the Society was holden at 11 

 o'clock, the President, Henry P. Walcott, in the chair. 



This being the commencement of the term of office of the new 

 board of officers and standing committees, the President delivered 

 the usual annual address, as follows : 



Address of President Walcott. 

 Members of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society : 



We are met here once more to review hastily the history of the 

 past year, and to draw from it such leosons as we may, for future 

 guidance. 



But we miss one who, through more years than many of us 

 have lived, has been an honored leader in this Society; to whose 

 wisdom, firmness, and fair dealing, in more than one season of 

 impending trouble, this organization has owed verj' much. Ex- 

 President Wilder became a member of this Societ}' in 1830, about 

 a year from the date of its incorporation. He ver}^ soon became 

 a recognized power here, and continued to the end one of our most 

 active associates. In a life devoted to the science and practice of 

 horticulture in all its branches, his more conspicuous services were, 

 perhaps, in the department of pomology ; and in this he was pre- 

 eminent, not only in this State but also in the nation. His interest 

 in all our concerns was permanent, nor did he permit the burden, 

 easily borne in truth, of more than fourscore years to interfere 

 with an active participation in the administration of our affairs. 



