72 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



connection with the rose show. It would be highly gratifying, it appears to 

 rne, to have that occasion occur when the most beautiful flowers of the garden, 

 and especially the "Q,ueen'' of Flowers, as well as we hope the Flowers of 

 Rhetoric, may delight and quicken our perceptions of Nature's loveliest works. 

 It will be for you, gentlemen, to take such early action in the matter as will 

 render the event creditable to us all, and memorable in our history. 



Other illustrations of our prosperity are the high appreciation of our labors 

 by those who are ever ready to aid and sustain institutions devoted to the gen- 

 eral welfare and happiness of the people. We have had cheering evidences 

 of this aid, to which I alluded in my last address. It is a source of the high- 

 est gratification to announce the continued kindness of those who have already 

 encouraged us in our career, and who have again made us the recipients of 

 their bounty. The second donation of H. Hollis Hunnewell, Esq.,' of i$2,000, 

 to promote the art of landscape gardening, is received with most grateful 

 acknowledgments, and the objects to be encouraged those that are nearest to 

 our wishes and wants. 



The recent liberal donation of ninety-seven shares of the Connecticut and 

 Passumpsic Rivers Railroad, from Dr. William J. Walker, of Newport, Rhode 

 Island, is renewed evidence that we are not idle in our labors, in the promo- 

 tion of Horticultural science. This liberal sum is given us to awaken renewed 

 efforts at improvement in all the various branches of gardening, and more 

 particularly the introduction of superior culinary vegetables. Our deepest 

 thanks are due to one who, already known as a public benefactor, by the 

 bestowal of his wealth upon kindred associations, has not forgotten our own. 

 We wish to record our public acknowledgment of this noble act. 



A donation from Wm. Thomas, Esq., has been received for the general ob- 

 jects of the Society, and his kind aid and sympathy has our highest considera- 

 tion. 



While we are participants of the overflowing wealth of those on whom for- 

 tune has smiled, we doubly welcome these acts as renewed evidences of a 

 refined and cultivated taste, and a just appreciation of art devoted to the im- 

 provement of our homes and the sanitary comforts of the people. Let it be 

 our duty as well as our aim to develop still further this latent and increasing 

 love of rural art. 



Little remains for me to add. The liberal premiums offered by the Society 

 have created a laudable competition and desire to excel, and the more we can 

 give in this direction the more shall we stimulate to greater exertion. As 

 speedily as we can augment the appropriations for prizes, with a due regard 

 to other expenditures, let it be done. As the Society progresses in material 

 wealth, so should our encouragement of every species of culture be enlarged, 

 that the standard of excellence may be more and more elevated. 



During the past year, several of our members have been called from their 

 earthly labors, and we shall no more enjoy their companionship and aid. Of 

 tliese none have been more lamented than the late Dennis Murray, whose 



