76 "WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1881. 



ble, of Grafton ; Joseph C. Lovell, of West Boylston ; Newell 

 Wood, of Millbury ; Jona. 1), Wheeler, and William H. 

 Wheeler, of Grafton. 



An aj^reeraent with the Boston & Albany R. R. corpora- 

 tion was effected, whereby an infinitesimal reduction of fare 

 enured to the benefit of delegates. Could a large attendance 

 be assured, it was stated that a less price would be exacted. 

 Tlie argument that a less price would, of itself, tend to swell 

 the delegation, met with no response. That great corporation 

 contents itself, as it has perforce been satisfied throughout the 

 Summer, with the meagre portion assigned to it of a six dol- 

 lar ($6.00) fare to Chicago. It has transported })olitical and 

 religious bummers, pot-house politicians and theological sectaries 

 up and down the Commonwealth for what could be got, and, 

 at this hour of writing, finds it profitable to organize excur- 

 sions to Boston, upon its own account, at a marked diminution 

 from its regular rates. A half-million barrels of Apples were 

 shipped from the port of Boston during the past year. It 

 would seem that anything which might tend to foster, or 

 stimulate the exportation of Fruit, from the famed orchards 

 of Worcester County, over their especial lines of rails, would 

 meet with prompt recognition from a sagacious management. 

 The late President Lincoln — eminent Horticulturist that he 

 was — not being possessed with the devil of " through connec- 

 tions " to Kamschatka or Timbuctoo; and appreciating "terminal 

 facilities," with nothing to send forward, at their true value; was 

 always keenly sensitive to such local possibilities. Meekly grate- 

 ful for the smallest favors, which we will trust may not perma- 

 nently impair the semi-annual rate of dividends, let us bear with 

 resignation the assurance that a new and competing line will 

 soon open fresh ways of transit and traflic between Boston and 

 Worcester, and simultaneously, perhaps, eyes that are now wil- 

 fully blind. 



Your delegates generally express themselves satisfied with 

 their reception and benefited by their attendance. New varieties 

 of fruit were seen, for the first time, by many, which had been 

 brought from afar and, as such, became objects of interest, al- 

 though unsuitable for cultivation among ourselves. The dis- 



