36 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1883. 



course. And now he linds, upon reference to his certificate of 

 admission, that it was attested by Secretary Haven, to whose 

 memory inadequate tribute has been recently paid ; and by Isaac 

 Davis, President. 



His birth just coeval with the Century. — the active career of 

 Isaac Davis had continued down almost to the recollection of the 

 youngest who hear me. As a vigilant and successful Mayor of 

 this City of Worcester, he was doubtless best known to the 

 majority. But how many are aware that he was the Second 

 President of this Society, succeeding Dr. John Green ; and that, 

 for four (4) consecutive years, from A, D. 1844, to 1848, he dis- 

 charged every function of that honorable office with character- 

 istic dih'gence and iidelity. This Society was extremely for- 

 tunate, in its infancy, in finding men to administer its affairs, 

 whose position compelled respect ; and whose unstinted devotion 

 to its welfare attracted sympathy and co-operation. The well- 

 known sagacity and prudence of Isaac Davis, in financial man- 

 agement, were of priceless value to an association, struggling as 

 was this, at that period, merely to get upon its feet. The rare 

 fortune that crowned his several terms of municipal service did 

 not fail to distinguish his Horticultural tenure. That happy 

 legacy of Hon. Daniel Waldo ; to which, coming in our hour of 

 utmost need, we may well ascribe the cause and fact of our 

 assured permanence ; fell in during his first year as President. 

 That considerable sum, with the savings of past and current 

 years, was so admirably managed, that its increase justified, 

 under his immediate successor, the purchase of land and the 

 ultimate erection of this Hall. Others are entitled to their share 

 of the credit : and to all such, as occasion has seemed to require, 

 due laud has been rendered. But it is simple justice to award to 

 the clear foresight, the wise precaution, and tiie patient frugality, 

 that ever characterized Isaac Davis, in other affairs, an equal 

 measure of success when those qualities were employed by him 

 in our behalf, and for our essential interests. 



He was a constant contributor to our stated Exhibitions, and 

 his display was almost invariably unique. Whether his own 

 taste inclined to the singular and luxuriant forms of tropical 

 vegetation, I should hesitate to affirm, with positiveness. But 



