6 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1880. 



and prodnctiveness should be established, and these elements 

 should be considered in making the awards ; every specimen being 

 examined, and the slightest defects, such as a bruise, a worm- 

 hole, a lack of stem, or a variety not true to name, noted care- 

 fully, that nothing which does not properly belong should be 

 considered. He cited cases where whole stands have been dis- 

 qualified for slight imperfections, but he believed in the adoption 

 of a rule and living up to it, without tlie slightest deviation. 

 Deviating from an established rule always makes trouble. One 

 thing that ought to be done is the exclusion of poor specimens 

 by those who make up the exhibition, no matter by whom they are 

 offered, as it injures an exhibition by lowering the standard, and 

 leads to the depreciation of the exhibits. He considers it a 

 difficult thing to do, but one which should be done, although it 

 is beset with difficulties. The result of admitting everything 

 must lower the standard, and expelling poor specimens, although 

 for a time it decreases the size of your exhibition, will, eventu- 

 ally, be most beneficial, and the general standard greatly in- 

 creased. In regard to judging floral designs he said he was 

 pretty hard on tiiem, and thought a committee on them a diffi- 

 cult place to put a person, and he believed in putting on a lady 

 or two who would say no much more gently than a man. 

 Baskets and bouquets he believes in, not, howev^er, tliose made 

 like a great cauliflower and as stiff; and he believed their exhibi- 

 tion should be encouraged in all ways. In judging them he 

 would exclude the owner's names and get an impartial commit- 

 tee. A difficulty is encountered, as tiie style exposes the owner 

 when he exhibits at successive exhibitions. He spoke of straw- 

 berries as coming under the same rule for exhibition, and would 

 have the judges consider quality rather than size, as more should 

 depend upon this feature. Roses he is much interested in, and 

 the hybrid perpetuais, he said, would give you roses from June 

 to frost, with proper attention. J^othing can equal them in all 

 respects, give as much satisfaction to the eye, or awaken more 

 enthusiasm among the growers and the public. It furnishes 

 abundant means of enjoyment, the roses are not expensive, they 

 need but little care, for by treating with tobacco water or 

 whale oil soap for a fortnight, you secure strong plants, elegant 

 flowers and luxuriant foliage. The whale oil soap should be 

 used from a third to a half pound to a pail of water ; and the 

 tobacco soap should not be used as strong. Nothing but light- 

 ning and the fingers will keep the rose bugs away, and they 

 should be killed by shaking into water with a little kerosene on 

 top. Last year they were unusually thick, but may not prove as 

 troublesome another year. In speaking of Pears, the Beurre 



