AfflUAL REPORT OF THE SECRETiRY. 



To THE Members of the Worcester County Horticultural 

 Society : 



Twenty-eight years ago, the actnalJPresident of this Society ; to 

 whom, througliout the whole course of a long and honored life, 

 we have been as much indebted for diligent and untiring service ; 

 as for munificence, ample as that was ; drawing from the keen 

 experiences of a recent visit to Europe, contrasted the Exhibition 

 of our Society on the 23d day of September, in that year, with 

 shows of a like character which he had seen in England. He 

 took, for an example, the "Horticultural Exhibition of all Na- 

 tions" at Cheltenham, under the professed patronage of Queen 

 Victoria, Prince Albert, and the Emperor of the French : — 



"In addition to a very large hall, there were four tents for exhibi- 

 tion, whose united length was 1300 feet, and the width of the tables 

 was nine or ten feet. Three bands of nnxsic, with different instru- 

 ments, played in turn in the beautiful garden." * * * 



"The English show presented a variety of most rare and splendid 

 flowers, in such size and perfection as it is difficult, with any expense, 

 to attain in this climate. Except the Roses, and they were very 

 choice and perfect, and some new and costly Petunias and Verbenas, 

 and a few other flowers not easily to be procured, the flowers were of 

 the kinds cultivated with difficulty and great cost, by artificial heat. 

 The space occupied by the department of Fruit and Vegetables, in 

 this extent of 1300 feet of tent, was not, in ray opinion, larger than 

 one of the tables of this hall ; — not more than seventy feet. 



There was but one plate of Peaches, which were large and beautiful, 

 raised by artificial heat, such as in the month of May were sold in the 

 London market at 10s. sterling, or about $2.50 for each peach." 



"I do not remember any Pears at that show, and I saw few in 

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