394 Massachusetts Horticultural Society. 



gala-day to be set apart for its exhibition, but the whole of the Socie- 

 ty's room, for a fair display of its beauties. 



The President then alluded to the financial resources of the Soci- 

 ety, and remarked that it was better endowed in this respect than 

 any other society within our knowledge. He also alluded to the hor- 

 ticultural publications of the day, which he said he might notice as 

 being honorable to their editors, and highly useful to the community, 

 in the dissemination of science. He next spoke of the salutary in- 

 fluence of horticultural pursuits upon the mind and body, as a source 

 of intellectual communion in the contemplation of its objects, chas- 

 tening and tranquilizing the feelings, and leading the imagination 

 from "nature up to nature's God." 



Let us then, gentlemen, take encouragement from the success that 

 has already attended our labors, and, although we may not realize 

 all our expectations, let us remember the words of the lamented Sir 

 T. A. Knight, late President of the London Horticultural Society : — 

 says he, "I have persevered, and I will persevere while I have 

 power." 



The President concluded by offering the following sentiment: — 



The Massachusetts Horticultural Society — Its birth-day opened a new era in 

 the horticulture of New England. 



The following toasts were then given: — 



Harvard University — No hot-bed^ but a conservatory of the first order, where 

 scions of old stocks are rooted, grounded, and brought forward to make good 

 the strip and waste of time. 



President Quincy replied to this sentiment in a felicitous manner, 

 and concluded by proposing — 



Honor, gratitude, support, to the taste, enterprise and spirit which improve 

 nature, and supply products to our countr)' which her cHmate denies. 



A sentiment complimentary to the clergy was responded to by Rev. 

 Dr. Codman, who said he could not forbear to express his gratitude 

 for this token of respect paid to the Clergy. He wished every Pas- 

 tor had as eood a parishioner as he had in the President of the JNJas- 

 sachusetts Horticultural Society. He proposed — 



The primeval employment of man — '•' To dress the garden, and keep it." 



The next sentiment was — 



The Rose — While we acknowledge her as Queen at the Court of Flora, we 

 are happy to recognize among our guests the distingui.'^hed representative 

 of that Queen, whose kingdom have adopted in the Eose their floral emblem. 



Mr. Grattan, the British consul, rose, and replied m a neat and 

 appropriate speech, for which we regret we have not room. He 

 concluded by i)ro[)Osing — 



The Gardens and Green-Houses of Massachusetts. 



11. The Union of Agricultural and Horticultural Societies — May their con- 

 nection be so intimate as to produce a numerous ofl'spring of taste, beauty 

 and usefulness. 



Hon. Levi Lincoln, the Collector, who is President of the Worces- 

 ter County Agricultural Society, and a member of the Horticultural 

 Society, replied, — he would state that it was his happiness to be i)res- 

 ent at the first meeting of this society. He could therefore contrast 



