1892.] TRANSACTIONS. 27 



** Mrs. George A. Chamberlain exhibits one dish of the 

 Howell, very tinely grown and exquisitely colored." 



" O. B. Had wen, for one plate of Ananas d'Ete, fine in size, 

 perfect in form, and beautifully colored." 



But few of the Diplomas then awarded grace our walls, from 

 which all of them should be suspended ; a source of pride in 

 the past and an incentive to noble emulation in the future. 



At that Centennial Celebration, in Philadelphia, only State 

 Societies were recognized, officially. A similar rule is under- 

 stood to govern for the Columbian Exposition, A. D. 1893, in 

 Chicago. The Massachusetts Horticultural Society has secured 

 one thousand (1,000) square feet of space; and a copy of a 

 circular addressed to " Farmers and Horticulturists," has been 

 received by your Secretary, officially, which may doubtless be 

 regarded in the light of a call from Macedonia. There should 

 be nowhere apprehension that our aid will not be welcomed, as 

 it certainly would not be lacking, in any generous, well-advised 

 rivalry to see who shall do most to insure a pomological display 

 that may reflect credit upon the Commonwealth. 



Yet, before we sufier the Society to be committed, beyond 

 recall, to a share in the competition at Chicago, for pre- 

 eminence in the Pomological Department, there are questions 

 of grave moment to be considered and determined. This coun- 

 try, wherein we dwell because of nativity for the most part, 

 and are horticulturists altogether from choice, is wide-spread, 

 stretching from Arctic to Tropic. Wo endure every diversity 

 of climate, involving changes so sudden and extreme as to 

 wholly defy calculation in advance. The Oranges of Califor- 

 nia do not ripen with those of Florida ; and Apples may be 

 past their prime in the Middle States when they have scarcely 

 attained maturity throughout New England. Under such un- 

 certain conditions, themselves liable to be modified by the vicis- 

 situdes of varying seasons, the Fruit of a Continent will be 

 challenged to a close, if amicable, rivalry. At what precise 

 date is an over-ruling problem for us. October is the month 

 of Fruit, here in Worcester County, as you have so recently 

 had ocular demonstration. A week or two may make all the 



