82 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL, SOCIETY. 



At the age of seven 3'ears he had a little money, which he spent 

 for a few Cacti, his acquaintance with them thus covenng a 

 period of seventy-four years, and now his collection of these 

 plants is one of the best to be found. In answer to the question : 

 Out of all that you have which are called for the most? he replied, 

 Cereus glaucus (a plant of which he has owned forty years), 

 Opuntia pulvina or microdasys, and Opuntia tunicata var. ferox 

 variegata. Strolling through the grounds, we find man}' of the 

 new and rare Japan evergreens, the choicest of herbaceous plants, 

 as well as trees and shrubs, among which is one of the best trained 

 specimens of Salishuria adiantifolia we have ever seen. This ele- 

 gant tree is at least twenty feet high and eight feet in diameter. 

 Do you wonder that we were charmed b}' the enthusiasm of this 

 truly wonderful gentleman, whom, if you have not already made 

 up your mind who he is, I will introduce to you as Louis Menand 

 of Albany, eighty-two j^ears old, but old in years only — young in 

 mind, and his activity unabated. Many will doubtless remember 

 the fine collection of rare plants which he brought two hundred 

 miles to our Annual Exhibition in 1874. Ma}' his manly quali- 

 ties and true love for one of the noblest arts be imitated by us all I 



Albany Rural Cemetery. A short walk from Mr. Menand's 

 brought us to this cemetery, which was incorporated in 1841 and 

 consecrated in 1844. It now comprises three hundred acres, about 

 two hundred of which is laid out in drives, and one hundred and 

 fifty acres is either occupied or laid out in lots. 



The varied surface of hill and dale is very striking. The beau- 

 tiful natural ravines are so charming that it would seem as if 

 nature had here done her very best to provide a fitting place for 

 this rural cemetery. The long winding drives, showing a vista 

 here and a more extended view there, make the whole area truly 

 delightful. In passing around the cemetery we were shown the 

 last resting places of President Arthur, Erastus Corning, Daniel 

 Manning, and many other persons prominent in i^olitical and 

 mercantile life. 



This corporation does not insist on the perpetual care of lots, 

 but leaves it optional with the lot owners to provide for such care 

 by the deposit of such amounts of money as may be agreed upon 

 ■with the association. These amounts are determined by the size 

 and character of the lots. The system adopted provides that the 

 income of the sum agreed upon shall be used in keeping the lot in 



