1887.] TRANSACTIONS. 7 



draw ; and a consolidation of four poorly supplied and sparsely 

 attended Exhibitions, into one meriting and compelling admira- 

 tion, would appear a decided step in advance. The Tulip, which 

 is rapidly regaining its pristine popularity, might be the salient 

 feature of the display for that month ; the exact date being 

 appointed witli close reference to the probable perfection of that 

 gorgeous flower. Whatever else might chance to be in bloom 

 should go to magnify the occasion : the idea being that Tulips 

 should constitute the especial reliance, without excluding lesser 

 or other attractions. The regular series of Weekly Exhibitions 

 would then commence with the display of Roses and Strawberries, 

 in June. This plan is recommended as one that would seem to 

 promise most for Horticulture. There is no doubt that the Hall 

 of Flora can be filled, week after week, with a throng of careless 

 sightseers. But the manifest inferiority of meagre displays must 

 gradually force itself upon the minds of even such poor critics. 

 And tliis Society cannot aflPord, as it should not be willing, to 

 peril a hardly earned reputation by exhibitions of a winter's 

 refuse, or by anticipating, prematurely, the first fruits of Spring. 

 Your awards have been made, as usual, by a single Judge. 

 While this Society may not be entitled to credit for priority, in 

 adopting such method of dispensing its premiums, its co-eval can 

 at least be challenged. The original purpose, of course, was to 

 ensure the doing of exact justice. The complete, or even partial, 

 failure of that purpose, if such should mischance, might be ex- 

 cused, upon the plea of error in judgment ; or denounced, as the 

 result of individual ignorance or ineptitude. That the method 

 itself is correct, might be assumed from the fact that it was never 

 discarded, where once adopted. That it commends itself to 

 popular favor may be inferred, from the fact that even the 

 Worcester Agricultural Society, with its incubus of the current 

 year, adopted it as the best system in vogue. And, after all, 

 what is this much contemned and disputed mode of making 

 awards ? Aught else than taking a case from the jury upon 

 points of law ! A decision may be expected, from a single judge, 

 within a reasonable time. But from three men, of varying tem- 

 perament and mental poise, wherefrom is to be the concurrence 

 of opinion ? Your Schedule is changed yearly ; so often that no 



