MEMOIR OF HON. MARSHALL P. WILDER. 27 



the many seedling pears raised by him perhaps the best is that 

 named for his son, Eddie Wilder. At the meeting of the Society 

 on the 10th of March, 1883, he exhibited two Chinese Azaleas in 

 flower at two years from seed. Many who knew him in recent years 

 will remember the camel's hair pencil which he always carried in 

 his pocket to transfer the pollen in cross-fertilizing. As in other 

 departments of horticulture, his labors in this branch ceased only 

 with his life ; at the Strawberry Show in 1886 he presented two 

 seedling varieties, the Dorchester and Omega, which gave promise 

 of much value as late varieties. And now that he has gone we 

 remember his earnest exhortations, particularly in his addresses 

 before the American Pomological Societ}', to produce improved 

 varieties of fruit from seed, and especiall}' to cross well chosen 

 varieties with that purpose. Among his many horticultural ex- 

 periments those made to determine the best method of ripening 

 and preserving fruit should not be omitted. For this purpose he 

 built several fruit houses, on different principles. Besides his 

 original researches, he availed himself of the wisdom of others and 

 collected a valuable library of horticultural and agricultural books, 

 and also books on history and other subjects in which he was in- 

 terested. 



Mr. Wilder's services to the Horticultural Society extended be- 

 yond the support of its exhibitions by contributing to them the 

 newest and choicest products of his garden and greenhouses. 

 His executive ability and business tact were freely given to aid in 

 the administration of its affairs. A most important service was 

 rendered to it by him when, on the 6th of December, 1834, he 

 made a motion " That a committee be appointed to consider the 

 expedienc}' of disposing of the interest of the Society in the Gar- 

 den and Cemetery of Mount Auburn to the proprietors of lots in 

 the Cemetery, and report the conditions on which a conveyance 

 shall be made if the committee deem the measure advisable ; " 

 and as a member of tjie committee appointed in pursuance of this 

 vote succeeded, by his conciliator^^ efforts, after several exciting 

 meetings had been held, in effecting an arrangement which has 

 proved of the greatest benefit to the Society ; giving it a financial 

 standing above that of any other horticultural society in the world. 

 He felt that the position occupied by him was fraught with great 

 difficulties, for though then a comparatively young man he was 

 placed in opposition to Judge Story, the Chairman of the Com- 



