15 



waft across the broad Atlantic our best wishes fur his 

 health and prosperity, and a safe return to his home. 



Of other donors it would be a pleasure to speak, but 1 

 am not permitted to do so. 



But the most colossal edifice which associated wealtli 

 could erect, though it might be a perpetual monument of 

 architectural taste and skill, would be of little avail without 

 the aid of a zealous and cooperative association ; and whik^ 

 we recount with pride these many benefactions, we ought 

 not to forget that to a host of intelligent amateurs and cul- 

 tivators — to Cook, Downer, Lowell, Manning, Kenrick, 

 WiNSHip, Perkins, Prince, Phinney, Gushing, Yose, 

 Walker, Lovett, Harris, Teschemacher, Haggerston, 

 Williams, and many others — not to enumerate the liv- 

 incy — are we indebted for the invaluable services and un- 

 flagging zeal which have given to the Society a renown 

 second to no other horticultural association in the world. 



And now, gentlemen, as we are to place beneath this 

 granite block the records of what we have already accom- 

 phshed, with the object of transmitting them to distant gen- 

 erations, let us hope that, whenever, at some very remote 

 day, when these walls may crumble and decay, — for decay, 

 though slow, is the destiny of all earthly things,— and 

 these memorials shall come to light, they will at least serve 

 to show that the objects of the Society were solely to pro- 

 mote all those pursuits which bring pleasure and happiness 

 to the social and domestic life ; to enrich and embelhsh 

 our homes and country; to create a refined taste, and to 



