6 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



might be aroused. Ex-President Parkman wisely cautioned us 

 against "getting into ruts and staying there," and we shall do 

 well to keep pushing that we may avoid this error. In corrobo- 

 ration of this idea, we recall the financial success of that exhibition 

 in which Mr. Sturtevant's beautiful collection of Nymphaeas was 

 introduced, and the Rose Exhibitions at which Mr. Hayes or Mr. 

 Moore presented unusually beautiful specimens, eliciting substan- 

 tial marks of public favor ; or again, the last Chrysanthemum 

 Show, to which Mr. Simpkins, from the sandy soil of Cape Cod, 

 contributed, through his skilful gardener, blooms that far exceeded 

 any of the kind ever seen in our Hall, raising the standard for 

 future emulation, and leaving our receipts perceptibly enlarged. 

 Do not these facts prove that the lack of interest must arise from 

 lack of attraction in the exhibitions, and will not the intelligence 

 of our committees be able to devise a remedy ? While the work 

 of the Society in the future is undoubtedly largely to encourage 

 the improvement of standard collections, there is perhaps a still 

 broader field for progress in stimulating the production of seed- 

 lings of hardy flowering plants and fruits, in which latter depart- 

 ment we have the example of Mr. Dana, who has left us the well- 

 known pear, which received the Societj^'s commendation, and holds 

 its place among the most desirable varieties. 



Messrs. Hovey, Wilder, and Heustis have displayed their skill 

 by giving us new and improved kinds of strawberries, receiving 

 the Society's approval ; and in seedling grapes, Mr. Bull, in his 

 famous Concord, has made it possible for every citizen to sit 

 under his own vine and eat of its fruit. Among plants, from the 

 experiments of the Messrs. Hovey and Mr. Parkman, we have 

 had rare improvements in the Lily family ; in pinks and carna- 

 tions by Messrs. Hyde, Tailby, and Fisher; and in chrysanthe- 

 mums. Dr. Walcott has shown his skill by productions of great 

 merit. I cite these instances of what has been accomplished by 

 effort in the past ; and they can probably be exceeded in the 

 future, as inventive genius is continuall}' surprising us on every 

 side with its marvellous developments, and whosoever shall be the 

 scribe of the Societ}^ at the end of its next half-century will hare 

 wonders to record far be3'ond our fairest imaginings. 



Who is to be the pioneer of seedlings in the Rose department? 

 The opportunity is wide for the production of seedlings of free- 

 blooming varieties which shall be hardy enough to withstand the 



