8 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1887. 



definitive interpretation can be put upon its shifting clauses. 

 What was invited in 1886, is not called for at all in 1887. For 

 instance, A. D. 1886, a display or design of Flowers and Fruit in 

 combination, was solicited. Sad as the confession may be, the 

 Society got what it asked and paid what it agreed. But the 

 Judge, and the Committee on Exhibitions, were of one accord in 

 discontent ; the result being an offer for the current year of en- 

 couragement for Table Designs in Flowers. Our Schedule for 

 long years past, has been directed in the line of precision. It 

 has been attempted to invite just such ; to welcome precisely that; 

 and to award, perhaps insufficiently, but yet somewhat, according 

 to tlie determination of the Judge. Still, the authority of umpires 

 is disputed ; and in Base-Ball circles the raalignants are even said 

 to kick ! Of course no such vulgarity can attach in Horticulture ; 

 at whose exhibitions woman is alike an inspiration and restraint. 

 But there is no use in denying what is plainly visible to the 

 dullest ; that a spirit of fault-finding is tolerated which bodes no 

 good to the Society, and may even tlireaten its future. Why is 

 it not possible to credit the Judge of award with good motives ; 

 to assume that what he does is for the best ; and to suppose that 

 the members generally knew what they were about when they 

 elected Judges ! The reckless imputation of corrupt intent is a 

 most disgraceful feature of modern politics. A Society designed 

 and founded to promote the refinement of life, in so far as that 

 may consist in the culture of Flowers and Fruit, should scorn to 

 lower itself to the plane of the blatant demagogue. The Judges 

 themselves have a right to claim more than bare protection : ab- 

 solute exemption from attack should be a privilege of their ardu- 

 ous, if honorable, position. Otherwise, their office will become, 

 and remain, vacant; and you will search in vain for incumbents 

 capable to fill them and willing to become targets for abuse. 



Asked, years since, by your Secretary^ to what he attributed 

 the continued prosperity of the Massachusetts Horticultural So- 

 ciety, — Marshall P. Wilder replied — "Because it has kept clear 

 of the shop !" If that was a necessity to the pioneers, how much 

 more essential must it prove to an association like this, explicitly 

 pledged to " advance the Science and encourage and improve the 

 Practice of Horticulture !" The shop despises the ideal. Will 



