1892.] TRANSACTIONS. 19 



tracted later than formerly, and a strong argument in behalf of 

 such theory may be deduced from the indisputable fact that 

 complete maturity of the Grape can be counted upon, with 

 almost absolute assurance, annually, throughout the County of 

 Worcester. 



At Harvest Home you can always rely upon the Fruit-Thief. 

 Whatsoever else may fail, blight, decay, or the plague of in- 

 sects, juvenile stealing knows neither pause nor cessation. And 

 why not? Is it not fast becoming a fixed creed with the men 

 who " cannot dig and to beg they are ashamed," that there can 

 be no valid title to land? And wherefore then to its usufruct I 

 Shall not those who work with the jaw-bone, live by it? And 

 how better, or more easily, than by spoiling the Egyptians ! 

 Shall not the children inherit the faith of the tiithers? If there 

 is no value nor ownership save that which labor creates, what 

 more valid title can be shown to the fruits of the orchard or 

 vineyard, — to Apple, Pear, Grape, or Nut, than that derived 

 from the toil expended on Sunday, in Autumn, by the boys and 

 girls that herd like wolves ; and like them " come down on the 

 fold," in weekly predatory excursions ! If anywhere, you would 

 imagine vineyard and orchard to be secure in the seclusion of 

 the farmstead : or along the thronged streets of the city, where 

 hired guardians of the public peace hunt in intermittent couples. 

 Yet, between set and rise of the sun, September 7-8, a tree be- 

 longing to your Secretary was relieved of its burden of Beurre 

 Bosc pears. The tree was situated within a rod of a public 

 street, and the thief had the aid of a bright moon, which doubt- 

 less also intensified the vigilance of " the finest" ! Two weeks 

 earlier, the Peach-trees in the garden of Mr. James Green, a 

 member of this Society, were stripped clean. The Police-force 

 is so large that its members can be spared on vacation ; mean- 

 while homesteads and orchards are ravaged and there is neither 

 prevention nor detection ; of punition no likelihood, nor hope. 



" But, let some old woman, that lives in a shoe, 

 Have a schooner of beer ! and there 's a precious to do." 



Still, if the General Court will continue deaf, or indifferent to 

 the plaint of this Society that some measures should be taken 



