52 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1877. 



feuspiciou — prejudice if you prefer — lurks doubtless much injustice. It is 

 a much mooted question — one that the mere ipse dixit of any one by no 

 means settles — whether an entry should be indicated by numbers rather 

 than names. And almost a miracle would be needed to provide you with 

 Committees, whose tireless service and adequate knowledge should be at 

 your beck and call, frequently until midnight, without even the poor re- 

 tainer of rations, or the prospect of most meagre pay. Nevertheless, dis- 

 satisfaction exists ; nourishes itself upon chaff, if you please, yet starves 

 not — and becomes alike contagious and infectious. This dissatisfaction, 

 as your Secretary has been directly informed, withholds many from con- 

 tributing to our Exhihitions, and threatens to deter more. Shall we dis- 

 pel such suspicion, — allay this discontent ? And if so, in what most ef- 

 fectual and thorough manner ? 



After mature reflection, your Secretary can think of and suggest no other 

 sufficient way than to invite a number of gentlemen from without the 

 County to occupy the position of judges. Doubtless some of the accom- 

 plished experts of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society 

 might be induced to assume those functions. Their impartiality could not 

 be challenged, and their competency would be established by the simple 

 fact of their appointment. The expense to this Society should not be 

 considered, in comparison with the general contentment to be produced 

 by such action on the part of your Trustees. A furlough from onerous 

 labor might be grateful to those of your number who have not spared 

 themselves, hitherto, in a thankless service. It might be found, after all, 

 that the accuracy of human judgement is less contingent upon locality 

 than some have imagined in their disappointment — and that fallibility 

 may render imperfect verdicts as well from the banks of the Charles, as 

 from the headwaters of the Blackstone. The wife of Cffisar must not 

 even be suspected. Let it be our ambition and fixed purpose, so to order 

 our policy that each one of our decisions, whether of our Committees or 

 of the whole body of the Society, shall be accepted as just merely because 

 we ordered and approved it. I^or would it be matter for regret if thereby 

 the members of our Committee of Arrangements may he left free to attend 

 to their especial duties. Simply to locate from five lumdred (500) to a 

 thousand (1,000) distinct plates, or articles, in their proper positions, is a 

 sufficient task for all who are likely to apply themselves, in the hurry and 

 confusion of an Exhibition, to that arduous if indispensable business. 



Which is all respectfully submitted, by 



EDWAKD WINSLOW LINCOLN", 



Secretary. 

 Worcester, Massachusetts, 

 Horticultural Hall, 

 Nov. 7, A. D. 1877. 



