8 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1904. 



I have also distributed scions as in past years, the Sutton 

 being in the greatest demand, using at least one thousand of 

 that one variety; and am indebted to David L. Fiske, as in 

 former years, for them. 



Our winter meetings have been well attended; two of them 

 we arranged for Saturday and I am sorry to say they didn't 

 accomplish what we expected — that is an attendance of teachers 

 and children. 



I am sometimes asked why we don't try to encourage the 

 children more and have been referred to what they do in Boston. 

 I fail to see any comparison between the two cities. The 

 children of Worcester have an opportunity to see green grass, 

 trees, shrubs, flowers and fruit growing, which the children 

 of Boston do not. I have honored every request for plants, 

 seeds, etc., that children have made upon me. I have had 

 many funny, odd and curious experiences with these people 

 makmg requests for the children. I have noticed almost 

 invariably these people never give seeds, plants or money to 

 buy them — only talk. Now it needs something more than 

 giving seeds or plants; you must keep them in sight, or after 

 the novelty wears off their interest is gone. Then again it 

 isn't every child that is interested in horticulture and when 

 I find those who are then I encourage them all I can. 



There are several schools I am interested in and visit every 

 year. I have suggested several things and have tried to induce 

 them to grow something and bring it in to our exhibition. 

 This year I haven't given as many seeds as in former years, 

 for Mr. W. D. Ross wanted to try the experiment of encourag- 

 ing children in horticultural matters. If this Society takes 

 this matter up, those interested must give it their personal 

 attention and follow up individual cases where they show an 

 interest — as they do in Boston. It cannot accomplish anything 

 simply by voting to do. 



We are indebted to Miss E. J. Clark of Pomfret, Conn., for 

 very fine exhibitions of peaches and nectarines grown under 

 glass; Mrs. John C. Whitin of Whitinsville for peaches and 

 grapes; also G. Marston Whitui of Whitinsville for grapes. 



