Massachusetts Horticultural Society. 387 



[on the reverse.] 



Tins EDIFICE IS ERECTED BY THE 

 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 



For the purpose of encouraging and improving the Science and 



Practice of Horticulture. 



This Corner Stone laid on the 14th day of September, 1844. 



BUILDING COMMITTEE. 



Marshall P. Wilder, Samuel Walker, J. E. Teschemacher, Josiah Stick- 



ney, John J. Low, Benj. V. French, E. M. Richards, Samuel R. 



Johnson, C. M. Hovey, Cheever Newhall, Joseph Breck, 



Henry W. Button, Fred. W. Macondry. 



Richard Bond, Architect. 



BUILDERS. 



Gardner Greenleaf, Nathaniel Adams, C. W. Gushing, Willard Sears and 



Jonas Fitch. 

 To this Society the Community are indebted for the foundation and Con- 

 secration of 

 Mount Auburn Cemetery. 



The documents alluded to were the transactions, addresses, &c. of the 

 Society, various horticultural, agricultural and political papers of the day, 

 (including the August number of this magazine for the present year,) to- 

 gether M'ith a variety of coins of the United States, and a phial contain- 

 ing a great variety of flower, fruit and vegetable seeds, packed in pulver- 

 ized charcoal and hermetically sealed. The Avhole were sealed up in a 

 leaden box, and deposited in the stone at the north west corner of the 

 building, and the large column, designed to stand upon it, lowered to its 

 place. The stone being tirmly secured, the President of the Society, 

 M. P. Wilder, Esq., delivered the following Address : 



Gentlemen of the Society : — In conformity with your resolve I have de- 

 posited beneath this stone certain documents and memorials. These are 

 for the purpose of transmitting to future generations some knowledge of 

 this Society, as it exists at the present day, and of the science it has 

 sought to promote. 



The rise and successful progress of the Society, from its infancy — from 

 the day when, literally, but " two or three were gathered together," to its 

 present mature and honorable standing, is matter of great congratulation. 



Its act of incorporation bears date June 12th, A. I). 1829, and I rejoice 

 to recognise among those present, gentlemen whose names are borne on 

 its charter — who have been its fast and firm friends — have had an impor- 

 tant part in the management of its affairs, and have ever evinced a sin- 

 cere and heartfelt interest in its welfare and prosperity. 



To you, gentlemen, and to the members of the institution generally, it 

 must be a source of great gratification, that in your day the flourishing 

 condition of the Society admits of erecting an edifice for the promotion 

 and encouragement of a science which stands preeminently among the 

 most popular and refined studies of the age. 



I may with propriety advert to the approbation and favor so liberally 

 extended to the Society by an enlightened public — to the signal success 

 that has attended its almost every effort — to its influence in creating and 

 disseminating a taste for horticultural pursuits and rural life — to the in- 

 troduction of new and valuable varieties, unprecedented increase and im- 



