1882.] TRANSACTIONS. 27 



Insurance Companies would think it strange indeed, were Gran- 

 gers and Horticulturists to refuse their policies because of their 

 unseciTily position as Middlemen ! — letting Halls for hire. Lat- 

 terl}' if a half-dozen men associate themselves for any purpose, it 

 matters not what ; — their first act is to engage a Hall, by under- 

 letting which they calculate, and generally contrive, to hold 

 themselves harmless. They pay no tax as a Society : they 

 contribute nothing to the public treasury : but tlie}' do impair 

 the ability of others who must depend upon the support of the 

 community to meet their honest engagements. 



Nor are we alone : the Massachusetts Horticultural Society 

 has to struggle with similar eml>arrassments. True, — no Grange 

 withholds its patronage ; since tlie hard-tisted j'eomanry of 

 Suftblk County use but little hayseed in dressing their hair ; and 

 seldom tickle a hog, except just before election. But the noble 

 tribe of We Cannot Dig ! with their congeners, — To Beg We are 

 Ashamed ! know of no method of accepting a livelihood, so easy 

 for one thoroughly and incurably lazy, as this modern piracy of 

 sub-leases. 



Yet we do possess the paramount advantage of owning our 

 building, honestly paid for ; and of being able to surrender the 

 second floor, from time to time, to public occupation and enjoy- 

 ment. If, borne down by the weiglit of taxation ; unjust, since 

 it singles out Horticulture for the sole object of oppressive 

 discrimination ; there is all the more reason why we should 

 approve ourselves equal to the emergency. Improve our interior; 

 adorn the spacious panels with the expressive features of our 

 departed worthies ; lay down a floor suitable for the utmost 

 exactions of the modern dance ; " hang out our banner upon the 

 outer walls ! " so that he who runs may read our dedication and 

 purposes ; and thereafter we can confidently challenge, and as 

 safely defy competition. All our appointments, however, must 

 be of the best. Our permanent prosperity as a Society depends 

 upon the continuance of a sufiicient revenue from our Real 

 Estate. That may be assured ; if we will but recognize the 

 demands of the present hour and anticipate those of the imme- 

 diate future. 



