158 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



and other educational institutions in Massacliusetts than ex- 

 ist, of like character and rank, in the entire west. We have 

 greater conveniences for travel and transportation. We 

 have steam roads and electric roads spreading out like a 

 spider's web all over the land, and finally the despised 

 auto has come, and come probably to stay ; and it won't 

 be many moons, as the phrase is, before the farmers will 

 have them ready at their doors to take care of their market- 

 garden and other crops, thus saving in the cost of trans- 

 portation of their products to the nearest market. This is 

 sure to come. 



We may all feel pleased and proud that we not only live 

 in a country of liberty and good government, but also that 

 we live in Massachusetts, the greatest State in the world. 



I now have the pleasure, my friends, — a great pleasure, 

 — of introducing one of the oldest, one of the most success- 

 ful and one of the best citizens of Massachusetts, Hon. O. 

 B. Had wen. 



REMARKS OF HON. 0. B. IIADWEK. 



Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen : I am unexpectedly 

 called upon, and have nothing prepared, and consequently 

 I must speak of the Horticultural Society, with which I have 

 been familiar since its very organization and incorporation. 

 The society was organized in the autunni of 1840, and held 

 its first exhibition in October of that year. I was a lad of 

 some sixteen years of age, and recollect perfectly well the 

 exhif>ition which took place at that time. It was held in 

 the town hall, a building which stood opposite this Iniilding, 

 upon the common. It was a new thing, worked up by some 

 distinguished citizens who had a natural fondness for horti- 

 culture : in fact, their residences were rural, had lands at- 

 tached, and they wanted to stimulate the interest Avith which 

 they were so well connected. The exhibition itself being 

 the first and the contributors cojnparatively inexperienced, 

 it was rather a meai»:re aftair. There were loni; lines of 

 a|)ples, but few of them correctly designated by name. 

 They also were favored with some large exhibits in the 

 vicinity of Boston and the Massachusetts Horticultural So- 



