Massachusetts Horticultural Society. 395 



that, thirteen years ago, with this. He did not feel competent to 

 make a comparison. It defied all comparison, to attempt to compare 

 that day of small things with this of great ones. We may form some 

 idea of its magnificence by knowing that this society has influenced 

 the uhole country. As mention has been made of three distingui?h- 

 ed members now deceased, he would fain connect with their names 

 that of the late Dr. Fiske, of Worcester. He planted thirteen years 

 ago the first seedlings of peach trees which this year had produced 

 barrels of fruit, which had been sent to the New York market. This 

 speaks every thing for improvements and facilities in transportation. 

 He said he stood here as the representative of the farmers. As he 

 happened to be seated next to the President of Harvard University, 

 who had just retiicd from the hall, he would in reference to him pro- 

 pose as a sentiment: — 



The Tree of the Orchard, upon which science has engrafted the bud and the 

 scion from the Tree of Knowledge, in the good cultivation of which, we have 

 an exhibition of the vigor of the Root, and the rich burden of the Branch. 



12. The first President of the 3Iassachusetts Horticultural Society — Distin- 

 guished alike for his Horticultural skill, and Intellectual attainments ; under 

 his energetic administration the Society, at an early day, attained an envia- 

 ble rank. 



General Dearborn said, he felt highly honored by the respectful 

 notice which had been taken of his humble efforts in the organization 

 of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. The results had far 

 exceeded the most sanguine antici[)ations of the founders of that in- 

 stitution. They had not believed it ])ossible that the advantages 

 which have been derived, and the extensive and salutary influence 

 which has been realized from the efforts of the Society, could have 

 been so soon experienced. But it must be recollected that much had 

 been done to prepare the way, by a number of distinguished gentle- 

 men, who had long devoted their attention to all the useful and orna- 

 mental branches of cultivation. Col. Perkins, Christopher Gore, 

 John Lowell, S. G. Perkins, and Eben. Preble, may be considered as 

 the illustrious pioneers of Horticulture in New England. They had 

 collected many of the most valuable and beautiful fruit and forest 

 trees, shrubs, flowers, plants and seeds from all parts of the world, 

 and established gardens, and embellished rural residences in the en- 

 virons of Boston, which had diffused intelligence, created a taste, and 

 excited a spirit for the extension of all branches of tillaoe, not only 

 among their fellow citizens in the immediate vicinity of their elegant 

 establishments, but throughout the Commonwealth. To those liberal, 

 intelligent, and enterprising gentlemen is this institution, as well as 

 the whole country, mainly indebted for the introduction and exten- 

 sion of many of the most precious fruits and esculent plants with 

 which our market is now sui)plied; while their commendable exam- 

 ple has produced an emulation amonsr all classes of society, which 

 has been productive of the most beneficial and admirable results. 



The exhibition which we have witnessed during the last three days, 

 in the Hall of the Horticultural Society, cannot but have impressed 

 all with the vast improvements which have been made in the variety 

 and improved character of the productions which the gardens in the 

 surrounding towns now afford. For these valuable results, he said 



