98 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1904. 



Island; Mr. and Mrs. James Draper; J. K. Greene; Secretary 

 Adin A. Hixon and wife. 



President 0. B. Hadwen called upon Mayor Blodgett to say 

 grace, in place of Dr. Willard Scott, who appeared later in 

 the evening. 



President Hadwen called to order at seven-forty o'clock, 

 and welcomed the guests and members of the Society. 



In our organization there is but little pride of family or 

 wealth. Men and women are rated by their merits, by their 

 zeal and intelligence and industry in promoting the objects 

 that the founders of this Society and those of their associates 

 and successors, have done for the improvement and profit of 

 the community. 



At this Society meeting it is our privilege to learn from each 

 other, and to discuss the best methods of improving our homes, 

 our lands, our fruits and our flowers, culling year after year, 

 from our gardens, from the wisdom of scientists and thinkers, 

 from our exhibitions and from the experience of practical 

 workers. 



Let us strive to make labor respectal^le and respected for 

 both sexes. The idea that labor is degrading is anti-republican 

 and void of good sense. Many lady members of this Society 

 are engaged in horticulture, cultivating their own gardens, and 

 are even more accomplished in all phases pertaining to good 

 living and to good society, with their practical knowledge of 

 horticulture. 



This Society is large enough, strong enough and able enough 

 to take a commanding position with reference to all matters 

 that pertain to the interests it represents, and was incorporated 

 to foster. 



It has recentl}^ discussetl the encouragement of school gardens, 

 to teach the young the use of their hands in the cultivation 

 of the earth, to produce something that will add largely to 

 future enjoyment of life; that will interest every member to 

 make active workers for the future benefit of the Society and 

 the public at large, and a distinct educational value to those 

 engaged in the good training of both head and hand. 



