396 Festival of the 



Society, are known only to a portion of our members — through his agency 

 a correspondence was opened with Mr. Knight, and many of the varieties 

 of fruit we now most esteem, were received, reared, and disseminated by 

 him. Next comes the name of the late Judge Buel, whose zeal and prac- 

 tical knowledge, united to a sincere enthusiasm, enabled him to impart a 

 vast amount of information through his Cultivator. Then we have our own 

 Fessenden, less practical, but not less influential in promoting a taste for 

 Horticulture in our immediate vicinity. The memory of these will long 

 continue to inspire others to equally useful results. 



But, Mr. President, casting our eye on the other side, we see foremost, 

 and in bold relief, the name of Loudon. He who sacrificed a life to the 

 science of gardening. I would, sir, that I had the power to delineate and 

 properly set forth the immense services which he rendered not only to Hor- 

 ticulture, but to every thing which pertains to the necessities, the comforts, 

 the luxuries, or the refinements of life. His works embrace Agriculture, 

 Horticulture, Arboriculture, Botany, Landscape Gardening, Architecture, 

 and Rural Improvement, and exceed those of any other writer, — indeed, he 

 might be called the Walter Scott of Horticultural literature. It is to his 

 exertions that the present state of gardening throughout the world, is great- 

 ly indebted. With an independent spirit, he at once struck out a new path, 

 and opened new sources of pleasure to those who had followed the beaten 

 track of their predecessors. To him belongs the credit of popularizing and 

 rendering familiar a science, long thought to consist wholly in the mere 

 routine duties of the field and kitchen garden. No monument could more 

 truly commemorate his life-long labors, than the great work which occu- 

 pied the last ten years of his life, and to the completion of which, he sac- 

 rificed his fortune and his time. 



Mr. President, — I will not prolong my remarks at this late hour. To 

 the great object of disseminating information on the high pursuit of Horti- 

 culture, our labors have long been, and we hope will long continue to be 

 devoted. If we succeed in awakening that latent love for flowers and fruits 

 which is implanted in almost every human being, we shall feel that we have 

 not toiled in vain. I will therefore give you this sentiment — 



The Triumphs of Horticulture — To open one new source of intellectual enjoyment — 

 to add one refinement to the heart. 



By Hon. Isaac Livermore : — 



Our Tables — The delicious bounties which crown them, surpassed only by the exqui- 

 site beauties which surround them. 



The President then left the chair, which was assumed by Hon. B. V. 

 French, Vice President of the Society, who offered the following: — 



Marshall P. Wilder, Esq., President of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society — His 

 untiring zeal, his persevering and efficient eflbrts in promoting the highest interests of 

 this association, commend him to the warm gratitude of his friends and the public. 



Vice President Jonathan Winship being called upon, gave : — 



TVu's Occasion — Adorned by flowers of the garden and of the home — by the fruits of 

 earth and the blossoms of female loveliness. 



