6 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



scientific and practical usefulness to, and the market possibilities 

 for, our horticulturists. 



Under the law, our property must be used strictly for the 

 advancement of horticulture, and for that object must our 

 income and real estate be directed. To that end are our special 

 Committees on Plants, Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables, and Gardens 

 chosen from those of our members who are best able to conduct 

 such duties ; and so are the members of the other Committees 

 chosen for their fitness to carefully conduct the duties assigned 

 to them. 



Each Committee is wisely limited in the scope of its duties, 

 and it is to them, in their several lines, that the Society must 

 look for suggestions as to improvement, which must be subject to 

 review from a financial standpoint. Income is always limited. 



I believe, under like reasoning, that the interests of every 

 member of the Society would be promoted by having the Real 

 Estate and other invested property of the Society placed in the 

 hands of a carefully constituted Board of Trustees. 



After my twenty-five years of membership, somewhat actively 

 passed upon several of our Committees, and after a quite general 

 interchange of opinions among our members, I feel convinced of 

 the value to horticultural interests in the State of the adoption 

 of the foregoing proposed plan. 



I venture to express the hope that you will be prepared to 

 favor such a proposition, if it shall be presented to you later in 

 wise form. 



As proof of the indirect benefits from our work in various ways 

 let me relate the following : 



Xot very long ago I visited- certain Rose houses in the neigh- 

 borhood of Boston, which covered several acres with glass, and 

 whence I had known that all the product of roses had been 

 shipped to New York. I asked tlie superintendent if Xew York 

 continued to be their market. •' Oh, no," said he ; " all our roses 

 now find ready sale in Boston." And I learned that, in his 

 opinion, the Exhibitions of our Horticultural Society had accom- 

 plished so much towards building up in Boston an increased 

 taste, and increased demand, for well-grown flowers, that the 

 change of market had been thus brought about. 



Look over the list of our .members, and you find but few who 

 have not contributed somewhat to liortieidtural work. 



