1886.] TRANSACTIONS. 11 



Within a few years, the Worcester Spy of Mr. William 

 Eames has earned its place upon our Schedule. Seedlings of 

 Mr, Thomas A. Dawson afford extreme promise, alike of quality 

 and beauty. May we not hope that the existence of such new 

 varieties will be carefully noted, henceforth ; their peculiar 

 merits observed ; that they may be brought to this Hall for a 

 test by experts, of their points of pre-eminence, so that all men 

 shall be obliged to concede a superiority once thoroughly estab- 

 lished. A new variety of fruit, of surpassing excellence, is at 

 once a credit to him who originates and the place whence it 

 springs. The fame of Worcester County is widely diffused 

 among the Pomologists of America. But that repute may be 

 augmented. That it shall be, must depend largely upon the 

 well directed ambition and sustained energy of the members of 

 Societies like our own, whose existence is avowedly for " the 

 purpose of advancing the Science and encouraging and improv- 

 ing the Practice of Horticulture." And there must be, surely, 

 more effectual ways of promoting such advance and improve- 

 ment than what are limited to perennial awards of money prizes 

 to the Bartlett and Baldwin ! (?, si sic omnia ! 



Little has been added to our positive knowledge of the Pear 

 Blight, within the year just past ; if indeed any knowledge can 

 be termed positive, where at best it is but more or less plausible 

 theory. The Blight we have : its causes are still a mystery. 

 The evolution of Bacteria is not a sufficient explanation of this 

 mysterious disease. That they may follow from it and be an 

 evident effect, is plainer to many close observers. Quite re- 

 cently, — Professor Arthur is credited with writing to England to 

 learn the truth and facts of a statement by a British Pomologist, 

 that a tree had blighted when the rays of the sun struck its 

 limbs after they had been wet with rain. Ampler and more de- 

 cisive details, to that effect, might have been gathered, nearer 

 home. It were hardly necessary to cross the ocean to determine 

 so little. In almost every instance within the observation of 

 your Secretary, — and his personal experience has been grievous 

 enough, — the most destructive attacks of Fire-Blight have ensued 

 upon thunder-storms at night, or continued spells of close, misty 

 weather, succeeded by hot sunny mornings. And yet that 



