24 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1887. 



hold exhibitions to attract the groundlings, to fill a vacuum, or 

 to advertise demagogues. A display of Apples or Pears, Grapes 

 or Peaches, Flowers or Plants, that might be left over, after the 

 choicest had been culled out to satisfy our exacting Judges of 

 Award, could threaten no interference and arouse but feeble 

 interest in this Hall ; wherein, throughou-t Worcester, Flora 

 and Pomona find their truest, because especial, devotees. Such 

 collections, or congeries, of job lots, may blend in happy apposi- 

 tion with horn or hoof. If they provoke fun, and supply amuse- 

 ment, there; most assuredly they do no harm here. Possibly, 

 they may draw a shilling, and so — achieve their exalted aim ! 



Yet, — objects another, the Grange goes to Boston and gathers 

 medals and shekels from a competition of undoubted excellence ! 

 Well, — is the Grange inimical to this Society ? It has not 

 so appeared, heretofore. Its members are among our most 

 active and valued associates. Whether that display of Apples 

 merely, extended and fortified by such a collection of other fruits 

 as might properly have enlarged and glorified it, should not have 

 been our Exhibition, may well enough excite reflection among the 

 Horticulturists who suffered the opportunity to go unimproved. 

 Your Secretary feels certain that the actual efltort was attempted 

 without the slightest unfriendly purpose towards this Society : 

 nor can he understand why our own lack of enterprise or gross 

 Idches should incline us to depreciate the well-doing of others. 

 Still, — should co-operation fail us ; should those who have been 

 our associates, hitherto, faint or fall by the wayside ; or, more 

 grievous yet, suffer themselves from whatsoever cause to become 

 alienated ; should hostility be aroused, grow flagrant and prevail 

 against us, so that we might elect to travel in other than our 

 wonted chosen paths ; it need not be assumed that we shall be 

 left without resource. It will remain with us, even then, to carry 

 out the lofty aim and intent of our Charter. We can continue 

 to " advance the Science and encourage and improve the Practice 

 of Horticulture." 



By precept and example, by seed and scion, by essay and 

 lecture, in every way known to man that proves an honorable in- 

 centive, short of barren pedigree, tiresome interference, or foul 

 over-reach, we retain and can preserve our existing priority and 



