MEMOIR OF HON. MARSHALL P. WILDER. 23 



the retirement of the countrj-, where he could gratify his taste for 

 rural life. In June, 1832, he purchased the residence of Governor 

 Increase Sumner, known as "• Hawthorn Grove," on the corner 

 of Washington Lind Columbia streets, in Dorchester, and there, 

 after having given a suitable time to business in the middle of the 

 day, he devoted all his leisure hours to the various branches of 

 horticulture. 



His zeal and energy were soon manifested at the exhibitions of 

 this Society. His first contribution was a dish of Madeleine pears, 

 on the 3d of August, 1833. Probably these, as well as Windsor, 

 Double Eyed, and Catherine pears, and Green Gage and Prince's 

 Imperial plums, a few weeks later, were from trees planted by 

 Governor Sumner; but his contributions also included new flowers, 

 which were doubtless of his own planting. On the 10th of August 

 he contributed two new French Roses ; and on the r2th of October 

 Dahlias, Asters, Chrysanthemums, Papavers, and Marigolds — all 

 in variety, besides a long list of other flowers. March 1, 1834, he 

 made his first exhibition of Camellias, comprising six varieties ; 

 and a week later had eight varieties, besides other flowers. July 24 

 • he showed new dahlias, carnations, and EschschoUzia Californica 

 Jlore pleno; the last " a new and ver}^ beautiful production, which 

 very justly excited the admiration of all visitors present on account 

 of its being produced double by Col. Wilder." August 9 he had a 

 variety of flowers including Lobelia canlinalis, L. splendens, and 

 L. fulgens. August 30 he had eleven new Dahlias besides other 

 flowers, and on the 13th of September more new dahlias. At the 

 Annual Exhibition in Faneuil Hall (the previous annual shows 

 had been confined to the dining hall where the anniversary was 

 celebrated) he was one of the largest contributors, especially of 

 dahlias and greenhouse plants. Such were the beginnings of 

 his contributions to the object lessons in horticulture which 

 this Society has so long set before the people, and these contribu- 

 tions went on increasing in quantity and value, extending over a 

 period of fifty-four years, and ceasing only with his life, the last 

 having been at the Chrysanthemum Show in 1886 — little more 

 than a month before his departure from among us. 



On the 24th of October, 1835, some special awards were made 

 by the Horticultural Society to several gentlemen who had been 

 preeminent in forwarding the objects of the Societ}'. These tes- 

 timonials consisted of pieces of plate of the value of fifty dollars 



