1877.] REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 35 



wherewithal shall it profit the Worcester County Horticultural Society to 

 save up income, and starve its taste for beauty and its appreciation of all 

 the nobler sentiments ? Your Secretary would earnestly commend to 

 your consideration the propriety of securing, next in succession, a like- 

 ness in oil of the late Frederic William Paine. His name rnay not be fa- 

 miliar to our younger members. But the faithful historian of the Society 

 will mention him as one of the Original Corporators,* and as the Treas- 

 urer of the Corporation, from its earliest organization until his death in 

 A. D. 1869. To his fidelity and honesty may we largely attribute our 

 present prosperity. And to no virtues, in these days of reckless or dis- 

 honest management of trusts, could an enduring memorial be more fitting. 



The Yeiinal Exhibition of the Society was unusually successful. 

 Occurring, as it does, when the severity of Winter is rapidly relaxing, 

 that Exhibition seems to meet the want of our natures in their impatient 

 anticipation of bud and flower. The attendance is always large, and was 

 especially so upon this occasion. The Cyclamen proved a leading attrac- 

 tion ; showing that the efforts of the Society to encourage the cultivation 

 of this charming house-plant are beginning to be crowned with success. 

 Very noticeable were some seedlings of Mr. Auguste Le Due (gr. to^P. 

 L. Moen, Esq). A specimen plant from Hon. Stephen Salisbury was 

 also conspicuous, with its profusion of bloom. Some shapely plants of 

 Azalea Indica appeared upon the tables, as if to show that their produc- 

 tion may be independent of the offer of Premiums. For long years did 

 your Secretary vainly proprose an award for the best six Azaleas. No 

 sooner was that cup otherwise bestowed than the Azalea, so shyly coy, 

 puts in its blushing appearance. It is to be hoped that a plant of such 

 exquisite beautj'-, which is so much easier to grow than the multitude with 

 which our ladies choke up their windows, may at last command the ear- 

 nest devotion that it never failed to merit. 



The WeeJcly Exhibitions of the Society were resumed, after the unfor- 

 tunate intermission of a year, and have been continued throughout the 

 summer. Sparsely visited at first, the attendance upon them gradually 

 increased until, towards their close when the Annual Autumnal Ex- 

 hibition was imminent, the Hall of Flora seemed too contracted for 

 their convenient accommodation. It is not the easiest thing to resume 

 habits and practices long laid aside. But enough was accomplished, al. 

 though our fair florists did not appear in quite their pristine force, to 

 make it evident that, in this direction lies our path of useful progress. 

 So only, in fact,can the Floral Department of Horticulture receive, at our 



* There were but four (4) named, in all :— John Green, Anthony Chase, Frederick William Paine 

 aud George W. Richardson. 



