56 WOKCESTEE COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1880. 



and to spare, every man sliall pluck from bis own vine and fig-tree, 

 Nature itself shall bloom and bourgeon ; and in that millennium, 

 where premiums are unknown and committees cannot intrude, 

 the Horticulturists of Worcester County shall recognize Eden 

 regained. 



Your Trustees decided, at their Anmial Meeting, A. D., 1879, 

 to hold a series of meetings, upon successive Thursdays through- 

 out the winter, then imminent, for the consideration of matters 

 affecting Horticulture in its manifold and multiform relations. 

 The duty of selecting suitable topics ; and of obtaining competent 

 persons to deliver prefatory essays ; was at the same time dele- 

 gated to the Committee of Arrangements and Exhibitions. The 

 list of topics is recited, here, for permanent record, and to avoid 

 future, vain repetition : 



A. D. 1880. 



January 29. Exhibiting and judging Fruits and Flowers. 



February 5. Mainires and Fertilizers. 



" 12. Growing and Marketing Small Fruits. 



" 19. Window Gardening and Winter Flowers. 



" 26. Out-Door Flowering Plants. 



March 4. Orchard and Vineyard Fruits. 



" 11. Does Horticulture Fay ? And How ? 



" 18. Trees, and Shrubs, for Ornamental Purposes. 



The attendance at those meetings was large, sometimes 

 thronged; and always sucii as to excite the astonishment of gentle- 

 men from the metropolis, who seemed not cpiite aware of the 

 attractions of Horticulture to people with whom it was not 

 merely a holiday pastime. The audiences, composed in fair pro- 

 portion of either sex, came to learn from those who miglit be 

 presumed masters of their chosen subjects ; and, in most cases, 

 it is believed that those hopes were not disappointed. Inquiry 

 was challenged ; and discussion ensued, when interest had been 

 aroused. Conflict of opinion, where it does not degenerate into 

 political or religious bigotry, is ever wholesome. The air is clari- 

 fied ; prejudice is dissipated ; novel truths find wider acceptance ; 

 and the faith, delivered to and jealously guarded i)y the saints as 

 an exclusive possession, is no longer rejected by the sinners. The 

 great Apostle of Democracy ;* — of perhaps the most philosophical 



* Thomas Jefferson. 



