20 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1879 



cavil at the conditions of a schedule which suffers awards — 

 whether under their own specific names, or as "any other vari- 

 ety" — for such vain repetitions as the following : 



Baldwin — Eight (8) distinct premiums. - - $7 00 



Hubb. Nonesuch — Five (5) distinct premiums, - 6 50 



R. I. Greening — Six (6) " " - - 650 



Rox. Russett — Five (5) " " - - 5 50 



" Qui facit per aliuin^ facit per se f^ 



"Tut! tut! young man!" interrupted Chief justice Mar- 

 shall; " assume that the Court knows something!" Has not 

 Horticulture long since determined that certain varieties of 

 Orchard-Fruits render a sure harvest .^ Why thus continue to 

 waste money in premiums, or gratuities, for their exhibition or 

 growth, unless the specimens are of surpassing excellence.'' Is 

 it not infinitely better to stimulate the introduction or develop- 

 ment of strange genera or species, which, in their natural evolu- 

 tion, may disclose ever new and superior forms and qualities .'' 

 Surely at last, if at all, the Baldwin or Rhode Island Greening 

 may claim precedence upon their conceded merits ; and, " like 

 good wine, need no bush." 



The Floral Exhibitions opened on the 6th of March, a date 

 somewhat earlier than usual, with a display of Hyacinths and 

 Chinese Primula. The Azalea Indica and Cyclamen followed 

 after a fortnight's interval. The specimens, upon either occa- 

 sion, were from such various sources as to indicate a more gen- 

 eral culture of those species of house-plants : — none of which 

 exact unusual care, while atl yield an ample return of rich 

 bloom in the dead of winter. The plants of Azalea Indica that 

 were successful in the competition, merit notice here because of 

 their symmetry — which was simply perfect. Last year : — "some 

 "of the best bloomers were drawn, from unilateral exposure to 

 " the sun ; and others were distorted in shape, to meet the unnat- 

 " ural requirements of their growers." It is to be hoped that 

 the lesson from Whitinsville may be profitable for instruction. 

 Similar patience and skill may achieve like results. 



