THE INAUGURAL MEETING. . 9 



With reference to the new subjects that this Society could take 

 up, prizes could be oflfered for plantations of trees. It would be a 

 most important subject for our consideration, and it is really within 

 the scope of our Society to undertake this. We have in this state 

 a vast amount of idle land on which trees would grow and on which 

 timber could be raised. I know of numerous instances where a 

 great deal would be done were it not for the danger of fire. The 

 State apparently is appreciating the importance of this, and is 

 doing everything it can to afford adequate protection to plantation 

 owners in this respect. A more vigorous enforcement of present 

 laws should be demanded. I know of cases where owners of real 

 estate are compelled to hire private watchmen to protect their 

 woods in the mayfloAver season. In one case woods are regularly 

 set on fire each spring by trespassers, from various motives, often- 

 times from carelessness. x\ few prosecutions would put a stop to 

 this. 



We have lost during the year by death twenty-nine members, 

 among whom we pall to mind at this time — 



Robert M. Gushing, a member since 1864. 



George F. Fabyan, one of our Trustees for the past two years. 



Col. Henry W. Wilson, for many years one of our actively inter- 

 ested members. 



William Cains, a member since 1845, and probably the last 

 suFA-ivor of that date. 



Solomon Lincoln, the well-known Boston lawyer. . 



Steven Van Rensselaer Thayer and Eugene V. R. Thayer, two 

 members of a family held in high esteem among us for its interest 

 in horticulture. 



O. B. Hadwen of Worcester, President of the Society in the years 

 1901, '02 and '03, and an interested worker for many years. 



Felker L. Temple and Edgar Sanders, the horticulturists. 



Moses T. Stevens of Andover, a frequent exliibitor at our exlii- 

 bitions. 



George E. Davenport, the noted fern authority; and within the 

 last few days we have been called upon to record the death of 

 William W. Edgar of Waverley and John Clark of Watertown. 



As a partial offset to these losses we have received twenty-five 

 new members. 



