66 



WORCKSTER COUNTT HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



[1881. 



American. 



Newtown Pippin, 1 2s 



Baldwin, 14s 



Greening, lis 



Russet, 14s 



Spitzenberg 16s 



Spy, Northern, 148 



Seek-No-Further 



Russet, Golden, 198 



Ronianite, 18s 



Phoenix, !, ... 1 6s 



Canada Red (Old Nonesuch) 18s 



This, upon May 21st, A. D. 1881. 



The whole aim and tendency of this Society, more especially 

 during the last decade, has been in the direction of quality, as 

 opposed to quantity. To that end, we discarded generalization, 

 preferring rather the distinct species within which we would 

 choose that comparison should be restricted. Each variety has 

 stood upon its own merits, if any it had, and the perfection of 

 the specimens became, as it should, the sole test of pre-eminence. 

 Baldwin was contrasted with Baldwin, and not with Fennock's 

 Red. In short, ploughing was no longer done with " an ox and 

 an ass together." 



Nor were imperfections tolerated, as a rule. Wormholes ; 

 specimens, perfect save from the casts that alone gave outward 

 indication of ravage ; knurly, or cracked, as many varieties 

 appear to be, in recurring seasons, without evident prevention or 

 remedy; all have been deemed fatal defects and, as such, incurred 

 the just penalty o'f inferiority. So that now a premium won, in 

 our Society, means actual desert : 



" Palniam qui meruit, ferat." 



Is not excellence everywhere appreciated? Do you suppose 

 that John Bull — stolid as he is assumed to be — attained his place 

 at the head of the commercial world because he did ?iot know 

 how to transact business ? Think you that shoddy is an Ameri- 

 can monopoly, or that only Yankees can properly do what is at- 

 tributed to Deacons! To show tliat the careful selection of 

 sound specimens, from the best varieties, would meet with its 

 due reward, let me adduce the opinion of Mr. Walter Draper, of 



