388 Massachusetts Horticultural Society. 



proved character of Fruits and Flowers, since its organization — to the 

 universal desire diffused by the zeal and labors of its members, for gar- 

 dening- and ornamental cultivation — to the competition and laudable emu- 

 lation excited by its Exhibitions and Premiums — all of which have greatly 

 surpassed the highest expectations of its Avarmest friends. 



I congratulate you on this central and favored location, memorable in 

 the cause of education for more than a century past, and from whence 

 have gone out to bless the world some of the most distinguished scholars 

 of the age, and brightest ornaments of society — and that to those halls 

 of learning is now to succeed a temple dedicated to a science which has 

 been honored by the great and good from Solomon to Washington, and 

 in our own time by Knight and Van Mons, Buel and Lowell. 



I cannot conclude my remarks without alluding to an act which should 

 never be forgotten, a meritorious one — and be it ever remembered, that to 

 this Society the community are indebted for the foundation and consecra- 

 tion of Mount Auburn Cemetery — that hallowed resting place for the 

 dead — that " Garden of Graves." Mark the language of the orator* on 

 the occasion : 



" We are met to consecrate this spot by these solemn ceremonies to 

 such a purpose. The Legislature of this Commonwealth, with a parental 

 foresight, has clothed the Horticultural Society with authority to make a 

 perpetual dedication of it as a Rural Cemetery, or Burying Ground, and 

 to plant and embellish it with shrubbery, and flowers, and trees, and 

 walks, and other rural ornaments. And I stand here by order and in be- 

 half of this Society, to declare that by these services it is to be deemed 

 henceforth and forever so dedicated." 



Noble act — glorious deed — a measure calculated to reflect honor on 

 any institution, and I doubt not it will redound to the credit of tliis, and 

 will be gratefully remembered Avhile this corner stone endures, and when 

 we and the members of this institution shall be quietly reposing in its 

 " Field of Peace," or sleeping beneath the sods of the valley. 



Immediately after the ceremonies were performed, the Society ad- 

 journed to their Rooms, and passed the following vote : That the thanks 

 of the Society be presented to the President for the appropriate remarks 

 made by him this day at the laying of the corner stone of the Society's 

 new hall in School Street. 



Adjourned to Saturday, 20th September. 



September I8th, 19ih and 20th. — The Sixteenth Annual Exhibition of tlie 

 Society took place on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, tJie 18th, 19th 

 and 20th of September, at the Society's Room in Boston. 



The exhibition was one of the most interesting ever made by the So- 

 ciety, and was highly creditable to the contributors, and also to the com- 

 mittee who superintended the arrangement. Although the floral decora- 

 tions were not so extensive, and the plants few in number compared with 

 some former years, the fruits far surpassed in abundance and beauty any 

 previous display ; indeed, so great was the quantity offered for exhibition, 

 that room for all could not be found on the tables. The yearly increase 

 of fine specimens is very large, and the inconvenience of a limited space 

 to display them to advantage will, we are happy to say, be obviated before 

 another annual exhibition takes place. The new Hall, now rapidly pro- 



* Judre Storv. 



