MEMORIAL OF WILLIAM ROBIXSON. 199 



From the first, Mr. Robinson manifested a lively interest in 

 local horticultural matters. In the meetings and exhibitions of 

 the Massachusetts Horticultural Society he found congenial sur- 

 roundings. Ambitious, energetic, and impetuously enthusiastic, 

 he quickly became influential among his brother gardeners, arous- 

 ing life and activity in those with whom he came in contact, com- 

 manding from all that respect to which he was entitled as a leader 

 and expert in his profession, and from many of us a deep and tender 

 appreciation of his sterling manly qualities, his generous, sympa- 

 thetic nature, and his fidelity to every trust reposed in him. 



He became a member of this Society in October, 1883, but had 

 already won many honors as a contributor to our exhibitions. The 

 records of the Society show him to have won many Silver Medals 

 and Certificates not only for Orchids, but for superior skill in the 

 cultivation of ditHcult Stove Plants and Ferns. Many of the rarer 

 Orchids, such as Phalcjenopsis grandijlora auna and Cupripedium 

 insiy7ie Scniderce, were bloomed by him for the first time in Amer- 

 ica, the latter having won the highest possible award, the Gold 

 Medal of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. Many beauti- 

 ful seedluig Masdevallias, Cypripediums, and Cattleyas also attest 

 his skill. For the last five years he had been a member of the 

 Plant Committee. 



We, therefore, do hereby record our recognition of his inestima- 

 ble services in the cause of horticulture ; of the honor and prestige 

 which he was instrumental in bringing to this Horticultural Society ; 

 of his worth as a citizen and his manliness of character, gratefully 

 yet sadly adding his name to the lengthening list of those who, 

 having each in his allotted sphere endeavored to perform faithfully 

 his whole duty, now rest from their earthh' labors. 



Respectfully submitted by the Committee, 



Frederick L. Harris, \ 



Michael H. Norton, > Committee. 



William J. Stewart, ) 



This memorial also was unanimously adopted, and it was voted 

 that it be entered on the records, and that a copy be sent to the 

 family of Mr. Robinson. 



The President, as Chairman of the Executive Committee, re- 



