WORCESTER COUNTY 



HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



A.D. 1880. 



FIRST MEETING, JANUARY 29th, P. M. 



Subject: Exhibiting and Judging Fkuits and Flowers. 



President Salisbury took the chair at 3 o'clock. 



Hon. J. F. C. Hyde, of Newton, introduced the subject, answer- 

 ing questions freely during the course of his remarks. Alluding 

 to fruits and flowers he spoke of the importance of exhibiting, and 

 considered the policy of growing, but not exhibiting, a bad one. 

 He does not believe in going to exhibitions and saying, " I can 

 beat that at home," as it seldom proves true. The exhibitions, he 

 considered, benefit the public, and especially the grower, by stimu- 

 lating him to a renewed effort with better success. In relation to 

 judging, he said it was impossible to please everybody, and judges 

 at a iiorticultural or agricultural exhibition must expect abuse, as 

 must all others who take any prominent position. He urged the 

 importance of selecting disinterested, competent persons. He 

 believed that prominent officers of a society should not compete 

 for premiums, as they should not leave the door open so that any 

 criticism can be made, as people will say, " Oli, yes ; you will 

 award a premium to the president, l)ut never to me." Then care 

 should be taken to select proper persons as the judges, and not 

 to get on those who know nothing about that whicli is to be 

 judged. The utmost impartiality sliould be used, and a good 

 plan is, not to have the names of the exhibitors appear; as there 

 is sometimes a tendency to strain a point, and give a prize to a 

 friend. It may not always be practicable, but on the whole, he 

 thought it would be preferable. Societies should liave their 

 own dislies, plates, vases and bottles for exhibition purposes, as it 

 improves the exhibition's appeai'ance. The varieties should also 

 be classified. Then a standard, embracing color, size, quality 

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