150 THE FLORIST AND 



MASSACHUSETTS HOKTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Satukday, May 27, 1854. 



The Society met pursuant to adjournment. The President presented a 

 report from the Executive Committee, and, on his motion, the matter was 

 recommitted. 



The following gentlemen were appointed a Special Committee to consider 

 the policy of a sale of the Society's property in School Street, and of 

 purchasing another site for a Hall : The President, and Messrs. Wilder, 

 Walker, French and Stickney. 



W. S. King, Chairman of a Special Committee appointed for the purpose, 

 offered the following 



REPORT. 



The Select Committee appointed by this Society to examine into all the 

 circumstances attending the award to Messrs. Hovey & Co. of a Gold Medal 

 for a seedling cherry, and a gratuity of $20 for a seedling pear, report the 

 following facts : • 



That at the last meeting of the Society (in 1853), previous to the incoming 

 of the newly-elected Officers and Committees, the Chairman of the Fruit 

 Committee presented a draft of his report, which was recommitted to him 

 for completion. That in the draft of report so submitted, no mention was 

 made of any award of medal or gratuity to Hovey and Co. ; nor up to that 

 time — the last day of their existence — had the question of such awards 

 been discussed in committee. 



That after the adjournment of the Society on the day above-mentioned, 

 and after the departure of the Chairman of the Fruit Committee, C. M. 

 Hovey called together three members of the committee (which consists of 

 seven members) and urged upon them, very strenuously, the merits of the 

 seedling cherry, which he claims to have originated, and of the pear, which 

 he claims to have introduced. That two of the three members were of 

 opinion that the cherry had not been exhibited for five years, as required 

 by the rules of the Society. This position was controverted by Mr. Hovey, 

 who also contended that his seedling was conceded to be the best that had 

 been exhibited. 



Your Committee understand that, when the matter was pressed to a vote, 

 one member (of those present) declined to vote, one other voted for the 

 award of a medal with the proviso that it should be proved to have been 



