15 



waft across the broad Atlantic our best wishes for his 

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



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

 am not permitted to do so. 



But the most colossal edifice which associated wealth 

 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 while 

 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, Loyett, Harris, Teschemacher, Haggerston, 

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

 ing — 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- 

 plished, 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 hght, 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 



