The President (Hon. J. & Cabott, of Salem), called the meeting to order. The minutes of the last meeting were read by the Secretary, (Mr. W. CL strong).

The President presented a communication from Mr. Parker, proposing to purchase the estate in School street, owned by the Society. Referred to Executive Committee.

On motion of R. M. Copeland, of Roxbory, a committee of three was appointed to report upon the practice of scraping ornamental trees. Mr. Copelahd exposed the folly of this practice, now so common, and explained why it was injurious to the tree. He thought that the Society would confer no small benefit on the community, by a warning report.

The motion was opposed by Mr. G. M. Hotet, and carried. Hie Chair appointed Messrs. Copelaed, W. 8. Kino, and A. Bownroon to constitute the committee.

W. 8. Kino called the attention of the Society to a report, widely circulated and generally credited; which, he said, was calculated to injure the character of the Society, if true, and which, if unfounded, should be at once publicly denied. The report was, in effect, that the Fruit committee had, upon at least one occasion, been called together by a person other than the Chairman of the Committee, and without the knowledge of the Chairman; and that at such meeting *< a Gold Medal worth $40," had been awarded for a seedhng Cherry, to the person who had called the meeting; and that the claims of another seedling* confessedly euperior (Mr. Walsh's Seedling) had been ignored; that the award was made by a minority of the Fruit Committee, and that the Chairman was not present at auch meeting, nor, until seme time anbeequeent aware of such award enough was known to be true to warrant a Committee of Inquiry; therefore moved: - That a Committee of three be appointed, by nomination, to examine into all the circumstances attend" ant upon the award of a Gold Medal to Mr. C. M. Hovey, for a seedling Cherry; and to report to the Society.

The motion was carried, and Messrs. W. S. King, Samuel Walker (Ex-President), and W. C. Strong, were appointed such Committee.