20 



hall ; but he also, with Mr. Hunnewell and Mr. Cheney, 

 presented the statues which adorn its walls. 



In this third era we see the result and development 

 — the flower and fruit — of the good seed sown 

 through all the previous history of the society ; a result 

 so rich, that we can hut glance at it : and indeed we 

 have less need for detail here than in the earlier 

 years, for it is within the recollection of even the 

 younger members of the society, and, moreover, it 

 will be found fully related in the history of the society, 

 soon to be published. 



In this era occurred the Rhododendron Show on the 

 Common, the most successful horticultural exhibition 

 ever held in Boston. Who that saw it does not still 

 retain the remembrance of its surpassing- beauty I And 

 for those who saw it, as well as for those who had not that 

 privilege, we have a memorial in the fund which accrued 

 from it, and which was presented to the society by the 

 generous friend, Mr. Hunnewell, who conceived and 

 carried out the plan to encourage the cultivation of his 

 favorite flower. 



In this era, too, occurred the gift of ex-President 

 Stickney, for the increase and benefit of the library, 

 which has resulted in placing within reach of every 

 member of the society the most valuable collection of 

 books on horticulture and kindred subjects, to be found 

 in this country, if, indeed, it can be equalled in the 

 world. Nor must we omit in this connection the be- 

 quest of the valuable horticultural and botanical library 

 by which that long-tried friend of the society, John 

 Lewis Russell, who had served it so many years as pro- 

 fessor of botany, testified his remembrance and regard. 



Here, also, we may appropriately refer to the work of 

 the society in collecting and disseminating horticultural 

 information by the lectures and discussions inaugurated 

 during this era, under the presidency of Mr. Strong, to 



