6 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1886. 



the season for Roses and Strawberries: — commencing say about 

 the period of the vernal equinox, so as to be secure as far as 

 possible from undue risks of intolerable frost. Those who 

 would like to compete for our prizes can conform their methods 

 of cultivation to our appointed dates. We cannot suit the ca- 

 prices or interest of individuals ; nor should the attempt be suf- 

 fered for an instant. Mahomet must go to the mountain. In 

 this way it might perhaps be practicable to present displays in 

 March, April and May, creditable to all who aid in their forma- 

 tion, and of which the Society need not be ashamed. June can 

 be trusted to take care of itself. This plan contemplates the 

 withholding of all premiums for fruit except in Summer and 

 Autumn — the seasons of maturity and perfection. If " good 

 wine needs no bush," it can scarcely be claimed that the Hub- 

 bardston and Northern Spy require further recognition, out of 

 our limited resources, than that awarded to them in such generous 

 measure during October. Your Secretary, cherishing no other 

 motive than a sincere desire for your best interest, advances this 

 suggestion in barest outline, to be filled up by the proper com- 

 mittee, should it find cordial acceptance. In actual trial it 

 might not achieve success. But we have high authority for 

 *' proving all things." The time for " holding fast " is when we 

 have complete assurance that our grip is on something good. 



This Society possesses a Library, whose intrinsic value cannot be 

 exaggerated ; or its importance, as a means for the continued de- 

 velopment of Floriculture and Pomology, overestimated. There 

 is probably but one other in this wide Republic that exceeds it, 

 and that perhaps because of mere numerical superiority as much 

 as for any better reason. For our good fortune, in this particu- 

 lar, we owe grateful memory to the late Clarendon Harris — so 

 long our assiduous and faithful Librarian — whose rare acquaint- 

 ance with books was supplemented by earnest zeal in your ser- 

 vice. His successors have done what they could to maintain the 

 character of the collection. Your Committee on the Library, 

 mindful that volumes are useful in proportion as a knowledge of 

 their contents is diffused, have taken heed to your suggestion at 

 the last annual meeting, devoting thought and time to the sub- 



