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1^85.] TRANSACTIONS. \f^} ^/>^V 



floriculture and pomology ; it may be out of our pow^Nturdepic^ 

 the benignant features of Oliver Fiske — primus inter pares ; 

 but it will be the easiest thing in the world to complete that 

 gallery, so happily commenced. Nor, for the fulfilment of this 

 purpose, will it be necessary to withhold from the Boussoc, the 

 Pumpkin Sweeting, or the Marigold, their meed of surpassing 

 merit. A steady pursuance of the policy, heretofore initiated 

 by the Committee on Library and Publication, of making at 

 least one addition, annually, to the portraits upon our walls, will 

 achieve much. The Committee hope to estimate promptly and 

 properly, what should devolve upon the Society to accomplish. 

 Should it be their good fortune to be made the recipients of 

 other benefactions, like some that have so recently enriched you 

 and graced this Hall ; they will still crave and solicit, so long as 

 one of our worthies continues unportrayed, or a single panel 

 remains vacant. 



" Cast thy bread upon the waters ; for thou shalt find it after many 

 days !" 



The effort of the writer, to trace the origin or early history of 

 this Society, as disclosed in a brief correspondence with the late 

 IIo7i. Stephen Salisbury, was narrated in his Annual Report for 

 1884. More vivid light is thrown upon the obscure past by 

 Louis A. Maynard, Esq., the record of whose own indefatigable 

 personal service is so conspicuous upon the pages of our pub- 

 lished Transactions. Mr. Maynard was one of our local pioneers 

 in intiproved pomology ; and his expression of holy horror at an 

 intimation by the late Gov. Bullock, that he proposed to ingraft 

 upon the Bosc, still occasions a quiet chuckle in Horticultural 

 circles. Mr. Maynard writes calamo airrente : — 



WoRCESTEK, September, 1885. 

 Edward W. Lincoln, Esq., Secretary, &c. 



Dear Sir. — 1 have read in your last Horticultural Report, 1883-4, 

 the correspondence between youiself and the late Hon. Stephen 

 Salisbury. 



Your question, — who was the originator, — the father of the Horti 

 cultural Society, I can answer directly and truthfully ; and show Mr. 

 Salisbury's '• impression " to be a reality. I go back to the period 

 of 1838, or near thereto. William Lincoln was, at that time, the 



