12 WORCESTEK COUNTY HOTITTCULTURAL SOCIETY. [1897. 



the fruit was much better than for many previous years. The 

 showing this year would indicate that the Japanese plum was to 

 be an important factor in that particular branch of fruit culture. 

 There seemed to be but little if any appearance of blight or 

 curculio. 



In pears, the exhibitions of Anjou and Bosc were particularly 

 fine, while all the varieties were fully up to the average. 



Mr. H. A. Cook of Shrewsbury and Mr. F. A. Blake of 

 Rochdale showed seedling carnations of their own raising which 

 were very meritorious, and a Certificate of Merit was awarded 

 to each. 



Mr. O. B. Hadwen placed on exhibition 12 stalks of Monarch 

 Rhubarb which weighed 22^ pounds. 



The Protective Union showed a plate of oranges, grown in 

 California, to which was awarded a gratuity; the 12 on exhibi- 

 tion weighing 15 pounds, while the box containing 64 weighed 

 78 pounds. 



The Exhibitions of Wild Flowers were a success, and the 

 uncultivated were a splendid addition to the display grown l)y 

 florists and amateurs. 



On one occasion one person contributed 164 varieties. The 

 inducements ofiered by our Society for their collection is cer- 

 tainly an advantage ; if for no other reason, it is conducive to the 

 health as well as the pleasure of those who strive to win its 

 prizes, and must bring in its results an increasing and abiding 

 love for horticulture, and at no distant day I look to see among 

 our best exhibitors of the garden varieties those who commenced 

 by bringing those grown in our fields and woods. 



For the first time in the history of this Society, premiums 

 were offered for native mushrooms and it has proven a success. 

 The interest taken in Mycology, as a special study, has been 

 something beyond the expectations of the most sanguine in that 

 department. 



The study to discriminate between the edible and the poison- 

 ous mushrooms has been carried on with an enthusiasm never 

 dreamed of by those who first suggested that this Society, for a 

 brief term, add it to the schedule. The interest continued un- 



