WORCESTEH COUNTT 



HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 



A. D. 1896. 



ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



To the Members 

 of the 



Worcester County Horticultural Society : 



With the passing of William T. Merrifield, on the 27th of last 

 December, at the extreme age of eighty-eight (88) years, the 

 existence of the generation by which this Society was founded, 

 and so long maintained in perennial vigor, may be considered 

 to have virtually closed. It is true there are some whose years 

 are not so far removed from his, and still more who treasure 

 among their vivid horticultural memories a clear recollection of 

 his life-long association with our early corporate action and 

 aims. But yet he must be accounted rather as one of those 

 choice spirits who united with William Lincoln, John Green, 

 Anthony Chase, Frederic William Paine and the Senior Salis- 

 bury ; who were not selfishly satisfied to gather from their own 

 orchards, or to consider the lilies in enclosed field or open 

 meadow ; but elected to lay broad and deep the foundations of 

 a Society whereby to advance the science and encourage and 

 promote the practice of horticulture in and throughout the 

 County of Worcester. From the very first, the contributions 

 of Mr. Merrifield, whether of Fruit or Flower, and usually of 

 both, were never lacking. Latterly, as his store of Plants, — 



