1878.] REPORT OP THE RECRETARY. 63 



surpassing by two pounds, the heaviest heretofore shown upon our 

 tables. I am aware that these weights — >of the Diichesse at least — are 

 not to be compared with those of the ponderous specimens developed 

 by the disciples of an Eclectic Pomology, in the vicinity of the State 

 House, who with the fear of Marshall P. Wilder before their e5'e8, 

 sit up o' nights, culling, trimming, and stimulating. But what would 

 you have ? As the rustic belle replied to her city-bred lover, who 

 thought to depreciate the Harvest Moon, — "Yes, I know, but won't it 

 do for the country?" 



At the Annual Meeting of the Trustees, November 7th, A. D. 1877, 

 it was voted that *•' The Secretary be authorized to procure a Portrait 

 " of the late Frederic William Paine, to be painted by INIr. J. S. Lin- 

 *' coin, of Providence, R, I., and to cause the same to be suspended in 

 " the Library." That vote has been executed and the Portrait of Mr. 

 Paine now hangs, in plain sight, from these walls. With what success 

 the labors and singular faculty of the artist have been crowned, you can 

 better judge, when you learn that a duplicate was ordered by the fami- 

 ly after they had seen the painting achieved for us. You have been 

 fortunate in the attempt to perpetuate his expressive features. You 

 are more fortunate in the possession of this Estate — Real and Personal 

 — a Trust for the common weal as it is, which his zeal and untiring 

 devotion did so much to establish and conserve. That the place of our 

 first Treasurer is so well filled now, may be accounted a piece of ex- 

 ceeding good luck. But no present happy chance can depreciate the 

 value of Mr. Paine's services heretofore, or lessen the estimation in 

 which his exemplary devotion to its best interests should ever be cher- 

 ished by the Worcester County Horticultural Society. Should 

 it be your will, atsuch inconsiderable expense, to continue the policy of 

 perpetuating upon canvas the familiar lineaments of our worthies, to 

 whom the established prosperity of this Society is mainly due, you can- 

 not go amiss or need to go far. There is one benefactor, whose munifi- 

 cence equals, if it has not exceeded that of Mr. Waldo, and whose cor- 

 dial CO operation was never, under any circumstances, withheld. Years 

 since, when our debt had become oppressive, his generosity instigated 

 and achieved measures that resulted in our substantial relief from the 

 more onerous weight of the burden. His contributions to our Exhi- 

 bitions are never lacking; constituting, both in amount and quality, a 

 leading attraction, without which they would be sadly deficient. What 

 need to mention the name of Stephen Salisbury, to enable you to 

 8 



