186 Massachusetts Horticultural Society. 



for them, and tlie pecuniary circumstances of the society, do not, in the opin- 

 ion of your committee, justify an appropriation of money for this purpose. 



The cultivation of a taste for, and instruction in, the art of landscape gar- 

 dening, seems one of the legitimate objects of our association, and, for its 

 own salie, is highly wortliy of encouragement. Nothing contributes so 

 much to the beauty and ornament of a country residence, as grounds neatly 

 kept, laid out with taste, upon correct principles of art, and founded on the 

 teachings of nature ; and any measure that can be adopted, for the cultivation 

 of this taste, and the improvement of tliis art, within the means of the society, 

 is worthy of its serious consideration. With all due deference, however, for 

 the enlightened judgment from which it emanates, your committee cannot 

 feel that the carrying into effect of the recommendation of the president, for 

 tlie establishment of a professorship of landscape gardening, would be at- 

 tended with any practical benefits to the society, or the public ; but be- 

 lieve tliat any effectual encouragement of the art is, at present, beyond the 

 means of the society, and that it must continue to be dependent, for its 

 cultivation and improvement, upon the formation of an improved taste, and 

 sense of its want, on tlie part of the public. 



The production of new varieties of fraits, from seed, is an object especially 

 worthy of the attention of the society ; not only because such may be sup- 

 posed to be better adapted to our soil and climate, than such as are of foreign 

 origin, but because, both from past experience, as well as upon scientific 

 principles, great improvement, especially in some species, may reasonably 

 be expected. With respect to some species of fruits, it is true, so great 

 improvements have in this way already been effected, as to leave, indeed, but 

 little to be hoped for ; while the improvement and amelioration of others, by 

 raising of seedlings, have been almost entirely neglected. While, during 

 all seasons of the year, the choicest varieties of pears and apples, already 

 approximate to perfection, and Hovey's seedling is such an advance, both 

 in size and flavor, beyond the common strawberry, as to leave but little 

 to be desii-ed, and the Diana grape shows what can be effected by raising of 

 seedlings of that species of fruit, the improvement of tlie blackberry, the 

 cun-ant, and the gooseberry, seems almost to have escaped the attention of 

 fruit cultivators in tliis country. Notwithstanding the degree of perfection 

 already attained, liberal premiums are offered by the society, for new pears 

 and apples, of native origin ; and it has appeared to your committee advisa- 

 ble, that a similar encouragement should be extended, for tlie production of 

 a new variety, from seed, superior to any now in cultivation, of those above 

 named as comparatively neglected. 



The recommendation, or suggestion, of tlie president, as to the expediency 

 of holdhig the next aimual exhibition of the society under a tent, uistead of, 

 as heretofore, in the hall of the society, or some other larger room, has been, 

 with your committee, a subject of serious deliberation, and careful inquiry. 

 It is a matter calculated to give rise to considerations of an opposite charac- 

 ter, and is one about which opposite opinions will probably be entertained, as 

 the considerations suggested may appear, one way or the other, to prepon- 

 derate. The expense attending the holding of the exhibition in any other 



