78 ESSEX SOCIETY. 



On Flowers. 



Within the past few years, Horticultural Societies have been 

 organized in several towns or cities of this Commonwealth, 

 and have, at stated periods, had exhibitions of fruits and flow- 

 ers. Many of the county agricultural societies have likewise 

 made arrangements for exhibitions of a similar character, during 

 the time of holding their annual fairs, at those places where 

 the horticultural part of the exhibition is not under the direc- 

 tion of a society more especially devoted to these objects. 



These exhibitions have been well sustained, and form a very 

 important feature of these interesting festivals. The halls are 

 always thronged with crowds of visitors, who are attracted 

 thither by the display of the fine fruits and beautiful flowers, 

 that are tastefully arranged on the stands and tables. 



Much good has resulted from these shows, — a growing taste 

 is rapidly spreading, and an increased attention is evidently 

 given to the cultivation of these, the choicest of Flora's and 

 Pomona's treasures, throughout our community, particularly in 

 the vicinity of our large towns and cities. These latter places 

 are undoubtedly the great centres, from which will radiate in 

 all directions, whatever tends to exert an influence on society. 



Your committee recommend that this society should encour- 

 age the difl'usion of this taste, and should not cease their exer- 

 tions, until every cottage in our county shall be surrounded 

 with its parterre of beautiful flowers, and its gardens and or- 

 chards well stocked with the choicest fruit trees. This can be 

 effected with trivial labor or expense on the part of the farmers, 

 — a few days occupied by them in the spring, to put the 

 grounds in a suitable condition, and a small expenditure for the 

 seeds, plants, &c., are the only necessary outlay : the principal 

 part of the labor afterwards, will be cheerfully borne by that 

 portion of the family who are not occupied with the more 

 laborious duties of the farm. This will not only tend to make 

 home pleasant and agreeable, — thereby cultivating a more 

 social feeling among the several members, but often can be 

 made a source of profit. A few dollars and a little time spent 



