16 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1888. 



is a time for all things ; and the closest students of Nature are 

 keen to learn and frank to confess that nothing is to be gained 

 by an effort to hurry her moods. 



The continuous, and now almost entire, withdrawal of Profes- 

 sional Florists from active cooperation in the work of our Society, 

 has been a marked feature in the Horticultural season just closed. 

 Whose is the loss and whose the gain ! it might be impossible to 

 apportion, precisely. It is certain that all honorable efforts have 

 been exhausted to suit professionals, in our schedules ; the fram- 

 ing of which, for years, has been largely entrusted to them. They 

 have also been signally honored by tiie almost exchisive choice of 

 judges from their ranks; — at the risk, not always nor wholly 

 visionary, of having the floral awards determined upon lines 

 almost strictly technical. Yet all has been of no permanent 

 avail ; one dropping off after another without so much as saying 

 — by your leave? or even after making such an exceptional 

 display as should depress the remaining members with a convic- 

 tion of hopeless inferiority. 



Your Secretary can advance nothing in adequate explanation. 

 Should it be said that fault was found with the judgments of 

 award, it may be replied that the time never was when the grum- 

 bler did not exist ; and that those at least, whose own decisions 

 had been unreasonably challenged, would not be so craven as to 

 desert their successors — fellow-sufferers in injustice. Is it not 

 more probable that the Professional Florist is gradually forced 

 to recognize, what has been manifest to your Secretary, for 

 long, — the absolute incompatibility between the highest success 

 in his occupation and the attainment of equal prominence at 

 Horticultural Exhibitions ! His profession, and that comprises 

 his entire plant, — is devoted primarily to the gain of a livelihood 

 for himself, and family. Our Exhibitions aim at perfection. But 

 he must make merchandise of his best specimens, if wanted, for 

 shall not my lady have the nosegay upon which her fancy is set ! 

 Granted, — that he grows profusely, — by acres, if you please. 

 Still, the more land under cultivation, in Floriculture particu- 

 larly, — the less time can he call his own, if he would not salute 

 insect-foes, weeds, or witch-grass, as his conceded masters. 



