164 Prof. RussdVs Mdress before the 



not say whether this remark belongs exclusively to the students 

 of natural history, but in no other have T seen it so remarkably 

 exemplified. If, then, such be the results of these and similar 

 pursuits, such pursuits should be most assiduously attended to. 

 jNIay we see such results among us. The narrow streets of 

 cities beget narrow notions. If we shut ourselves out from 

 glorious nature, ice shall become insensibly inglorious. But if 

 we can engraft somewhat of the freedom of wild nature by a 

 reverse process of skill, on the stock of constrained and artificial 

 society, the blending may be effective in the production of an 

 agreeable and golden fruit. 



Our horticultural society embraces among its members the 

 young. This, too, is well. To create a taste for such studies 

 as ours, at an early age, should be the effort of every one who 

 has the true interest of the young at heart. We can conceive 

 of no single vice or low pursuit, to which the young are ex- 

 posed, which may not be counteracted by the early instruction 

 in the pursuits of the garden or the field. Children and youth 

 are particularly inclined to this branch of easy labor. The 

 picturesque scenery of your busy city invites to a study of the 

 beauties and wonders of nature. The rare and beautiful wild 

 flowers, which have graced your tables, were the humble and 

 happy offerings of youth. The wild banks of the Merrimac, 

 the broad meadows of Tewksbury, the oaken woods near by, 

 the verdant copses of tall trees in your very streets, and midst 

 high piles of masonry, and the diversified flora of your vicini- 

 ty, are favorable to the study of flowers. The narrow area of 

 your dwelling-houses are capable of aflbrding your children 

 sufKcient space for their mimic floriculture, and not a few of 

 the more delicious fruits even might be trained to your sunny 

 walls, by the careful and curious fingers of those little happy 

 inmates, in whom are centred your anxious wishes, and your 

 choicest blessings. The rearing of some dozen fine plants in 

 pots, may occupy a child, or several children's leisure hours; 

 and where the young person of a more advanced stage of life 

 even, to whom such an attention to the wonders of vegetation 

 would be otherwise than ever instructive and delightful? I 

 hail the efforts of the young in their votive offerings to Flora, 

 as among the happiest omens of our day: and I fear not that 

 the efforts of the Society will be abated in their behalf. Dis- 

 cretionary premiums should be established to reward the zeal 

 of those too young for membership, and to foster the taste for 

 these subjects at an early age. 



