14 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICTILTURAL SOCIETY. [1888. 



duly thankful ! For the rest, we may as well leave it with the 

 inscrutable Providence that decrees and limits human existence. 



Our Hall is in fair condition and has returned an average reve- 

 nue during the past year. But members who wish a larger ap- 

 propriation for premiums, at our Exhibitions must bear in mind 

 that depreciation of improved real estate increases in proportion 

 to its age, and that we have no riglit to expect an exception in our 

 own case. The mastic upon our front wall has fallen off in 

 patches ; and, at best, presents but a sliabby appearance. Located 

 upon one of our most important streets, where all public pro- 

 cessions must necessarily parade, neither our pecuniary interest 

 nor the reputation of the Society, will suffer us to let Horticul- 

 tural Hall waste into discredit. It now has a supreme recom- 

 mendation in its convenient site, its facility of access from the 

 street, and yet more in the entire immunity from danger, in the 

 event of senseless panic. But others may attempt to rival, if 

 they cannot hope to surpass, such signal advantages. And, 

 therefore it is the decided conviction of your Committee on 

 Finance, that every dollar which can be spared should go to con- 

 stitute a Repairs-Fund, from which, in due time, may be defrayed 

 the cost of such alterations and improvements as shall be found 

 indispensable. Tlie ordinary work of the Society would thus go 

 on without interruption ; while the saving annually, if small in 

 itself, would in the long run, increase to a sum adequate for the 

 specitic purpose. 



The taxes upon our stores, whercfrom are derived the means by 

 which we "advance the Science and encourage and improve the 

 ' Practice of Horticulture,'" are rapidly attaining the magnitude 

 of former years. Our revenue from an investment in Real Estate 

 is all that enables us to carry out the purposes for which we were 

 chartered. It might be expedient when any alterations are found 

 to be inevitable, to construct a pious gymnasium in the basement 

 of our building, with a flying trapeze for devout development. 

 If a holy retreat might be added, for which our attic would be 

 well adapted, wherein to indulge in solenm meditation upon the 

 conundrum, " Were There Mosquitoes in Eden ? " condition and 



