24 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1884. 



Ml'. William Lincoln did more to found and build up that Society 

 than any other person. Dr. Green, Mr. F. W. Paine, and Mr. John 

 M. Earle, were prominent and did special things. As I remember, 

 Mr. Paine obtained a large number of specimen Pears from Salem, 

 which were more numerous than excellent ; yet they were instructive 

 and encouraging. The rest of us followed Mr. Jjincoln and could not 

 escape some useful service. I am glad to know that you are attempt- 

 ing to gather the history of a Society that has been always useful to 

 the growth and character of our city ; in its small beginning and in 

 the glory of the latter day, in which the hand of a Lincoln again 

 appears. 



Very sincerely yours, 



S. Salisbury." 



" My way of life 

 Is falling into tlie sear, the yellow leaf ; 

 And that which should accompany old age. 

 As honour, love, obedience, troops of friends, 

 I must not look to have ;" — 



So wrote the Poet of All Time, — in the despairing monologue 

 of that mediaeval Knight who, as warrior fought his own battles ; 

 and, as politician, casting an anchor to windward, wrecked his 

 ship to the loss of both kingdom and life. 



The ambition of Horticulture, like the tendency of her pur- 

 suits, is toward every art that maketh for Peace. She is never 

 aggressive, — if stalwart. May it not be said of her, as of Wis- 

 dom, in the phrase of him who wrote as but One spake, — 



" Length of days is in her right hand ; and in her left hand riches 

 and honor. 



" Her ways are ways of pleasantness and all her paths are peace. 



" She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her." 



Is Horticulture synonymous with length of days ? Stephen 

 Salisbury attained to his eighty -seventh year. Clarendon Harris 

 was eighty -four; and Paul Whitih eighty -five. Of those whose 

 portraits adorn our Hall all, save one whose career was cut short 

 by an accident, had far transcended the limit of the Psalmist. 

 Let those, then, who love life for its own sake ; or for the oppor- 

 tunities whereby it may be made fruitful ; like their exemplars, 



