HORTICULTURAL REMINISCENCES. 235 



that the whole wealth of the country fifty years ago could not have 

 produced such an exhibition as we had in our own halls this week, 

 and it was mostly the contribution of those who cultivated flowers 

 for the love of them. 



Robert Manning related a reminiscence of a gentleman who 

 came into one of the dahlia shows of this Society about fifty years 

 ago, when the culture of that gorgeous flower was carried to a 

 greater extent than now, and was so struck with the beautv. of the 

 show that, though his time was almost incessantly occupied with 

 commercial affairs, and though he possessed only a few square feet 

 of garden in the rear of his cit}' dwelling, he determined to buy a 

 few plants. In the spring he carried out this purpose and in 

 autumn he was repaid by a brilliant show of flowers. Another 

 year the number was increased and he was equall}' successful. 

 Delighted to find himself so well repaid (unaware that his success 

 was entirely owing to the love which spared no pains for the wel- 

 fare of his plants) he procured the newest and finest sorts, and 

 another season not only became a competitor for the prizes but 

 actually carried off some of them. 



But with a few feet of land already over-filled there was no 

 room for further additions to his stock, and he must either have 

 more land or fewer plants ; the latter he could not do, and another 

 hundred feet, worth almost as many acres a few miles from the 

 city, was added. But now other objects attracted his attention. 

 The grand displays of fruit were so rich and inviting that he 

 could not consent to be merely an admirer of them. So the cor- 

 ners of his garden were filled with young pear trees, which flourished 

 as well as the dahlias, but tnade sad inroads on their territory. As 

 time rolled on golden fruit hung from their branches, and a rich 

 harvest crowned the labors of the cultivator of the city garden. 



This zealous cultivator was Josiah Sticknet, whose name is 

 familiar to all the members of this Society. His garden then was 

 at No. 116 Tremont Street, not far from where the Society's build- 

 ing in which this meeting was assembled was afterwards erected. 

 In 1844 Mr. Stickney purchased the estate of Madam Hunt, 

 occupying an elevation on the left bank of Charles River, in 

 TVatertown, where the mansion forms a conspicuous object to the 

 view of travellers by the Boston and Albany Railroad, on the 

 other side of the river. Here he formed terraces on the river bank, 

 which he planted with pear trees. Other plantations of pear trees 



