JMiddlescx Horlicullural Society. 165 



Nor can I forget to offer the meed of high praise due to the 

 other sex, who, by the constitution of your Society, are admit- 

 ted among its members. As you peruse the annals of natural 

 science, especially of botany and its kindred studies, the names 

 of generous and distinguished patrons from their ranks fre- 

 quently meet your eye. P^oreign botany, in particular, num- 

 bers among its most successful and enterprising students seve- 

 ral ladies of well known celebrity. Some of the most superb 

 green-houses and gardens in England are the property, and un- 

 der the management of women of rank, with whom the most 

 profound mysteries of floriculture and the higher branches of 

 gardening are familiar. In more humble life, perhaps, and less 

 known to fame, are individuals, also, whose pencils have aided 

 in the delineation of nature, and in the advancement of natural 

 science. With the female mind, such pursuits as those which en- 

 gage our attention are congenial. 'J'he parlor may be rendered 

 more magic in its attractions, by the nurture of some superb ex- 

 otic under the hands of the wife, the mother, or the sister, and 

 whatever lends a charm to home is worthy our attention. Many 

 a child has been won to the graces of life by the ministry of 

 some flower, which affection has reared, and which a mother''s 

 hand has cherished; and whoever can forget what she loves, or 

 pass an indifferent eye over the simple flower in which she de- 

 lighted, is so far unworthy the filial relation. Never should 

 the beautiful anecdote of the illustrious Cuvier be forgotten, in 

 his admiration of the red stock gilliflower, because it was his 

 mother'' s flower! Tokens of enduring affection, or of sacred 

 friendship, these living types of beauty may properly become, 

 and no less objectionable gift can be offered to express the ci- 

 vilities of life, or an interest in each other, than some beautiful 

 flower. 



The choice specimens of annual and perennial out-door 

 flowers, as well as of well grown pot plants, evince that there 

 are in our midst those among the ladies who are not unfamiliar 

 with the innocent and instructive pursuits of floriculture. May 

 we not anticipate a generous aid and cooperation on their 

 part, in all our efforts towards the enterprise in which the So- 

 ciety has engaged? 



The early establishment of premiums, for the encourage- 

 ment of competitors, evinces also that the vital interest and 

 prosperity of the Society was well regarded. The end of its 

 labors was also kept in view, by the limitation of such premi- 

 ums to whatever was exhibited, being the growth and property 



