62 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCLETY. 



and I trust it may enable us to act in greater concert, that the present useful- 

 ness and future welfare of the Society may be promoted. 



But I am fearful what I may now say will lose much of its interest, after the 

 excellent address of your retiring President, who has brought to the work, the 

 same thoroughness Avhich he brings to everything that comes from his head or 

 hands. He has recounted the doings, not only during his own term of office, 

 so prosperous and useful, but he has gone further and recalled to our minds 

 much that transpired before. Fortunate for me, is it, that wliat he has said has 

 been mainly retrospective rather tiian prospective, and referring you to his 

 remarks for that which is past in our history, I shall speak of that which is 

 before us. 



First then, gentlemen, let me speak of what I consider the great and para- 

 mount work of the Society. The original Act of Incorporation was for the 

 " purpose of encouraging and improving the science and practice of horticul- 

 ture, and promoting the amelioration of the various species of trees, plants, 

 fruits, and vegetables." These are the very words of the act. Thus it will 

 be seen we have a distinct work to do. There may be different views as to 

 the mode of accomplishing all this, but the act is explicit. This, indeed, has 

 been our object, and I only allude to it that we may keep in view the great 

 purpose, which sometimes I have thought was nearly overlooked. 



It appears to me, that in no way can so much be achieved as by judicious 

 and LiBKRAL PREMIUMS, to bo awarded for meritorious objects. A record of 

 the amount the Society lias distributed in prizes would be interesting ; without 

 going back too far, it may be set down at about two thousand dollars a year 

 for the last ten years, amounting in tiie aggregate to twenty thousand dollars. 

 This is a liberal sum, and no one, I think, can doubt the immense advantages 

 that have resulted from the outlay. 



To what do we owe tiie present condition of horticulture more than to the 

 system of the distribution of prizes? In fiict, if-we study the matter, we shall 

 find that the high state of plant culture and fruit growing, and the introduction 

 of new varieties, are all due to the laudable desire to excel — to possess some- 

 thing superior to others — certainly an honorable object. Skill in cultivation 

 being attainable by all, superiority comes from a new development of the cul- 

 tivator's skill. Hence we owe everything to the system which has brought out 

 so much beauty and so much excellence ; and this brings vc\e to the first sug- 

 gestion I wish to make, viz : tliat the premiums for new seedling flowers 

 plants, and fruits, which vvere struck from the list a few years since, should be 

 restored. But for the offer of these prizes, the Jenny Lind strawberry, Dana's, 

 Hovey, and Clapp's Favorite pears, the Concord grape, and other fruits, as well 

 as many superb flowers, might never have enriched our gardens. We have 

 beautiful medals to offer, and I know of no way in which we can so well per- 

 petuate the memory of those who so liberally endowed us, as in the distribu- 

 tion of the medals that bear their names. 



