1888.] TRANSACTIONS. 19 



By those who are spared to see that day shall it be said that 

 the God Terminus, or even Pallida Mors^ called a halt to Flora, 

 Ceres, and Pomona ! Or shall not that date rather be commem- 

 orated by the new departure which, recognizing the vigorous 

 state of the corporation, shall prepare to assume the obligations 

 resulting therefrom ? What mean those Lectures on Botany, 

 continued witli so little pecuniary support, but encouraged by a 

 large and zealous attendance? Why has this Horticultural So- 

 ciety naught to do with them, or their like ! And why, indiffer- 

 ent or neglectful, can we not perceive the adverse comment to 

 which we subject ourselves through our penuriousness or sloth ! 

 I offer no specific recommendation. But in what manner can we 

 better crown our fifty years of active and useful existence, than 

 by the inauguration of some method or plan whereby our facili- 

 ties and resources shall be rendered tributary to that endeavor, 

 more or less sharply defined, that aims to establish here in 

 Worcester, upon broad foundations, a complete and thorough 

 University ! 



Your Secretary^ as he has never suffered you to forget, believes 

 in striking every obvious and possible shackle from inter-national, 

 as well as inter-state, trade. Commerce thrives in the enjoyment 

 of vigorous life, within the wide confines of the Republic. The 

 car that carries a freight of boots or shoes — perhaps bunting ! 

 to Illinois, returning with a load of corn, or wheat-flour. If our 

 Farmers can grow maize in economical rivalry with their brethren 

 of the Sucker State, as some contend and claim to demonstrate, 

 how much more should they be able to maintain their standing, 

 when their competitors are handicapped by the cost of trans- 

 portation across a trackless ocean ! At present. Apples command 

 a small price — ;the fruit being plentiful, its juice — sinful. Why 

 not make unto ourselves friends of the Mammon of Unrighteous- 

 ness ! Why not entice John Bull to partake of the iniquity ! 

 thereby filling our pockets by a sort of vicarious atonement; — 

 the scape-^oa^ being the Ijull aforesaid ! It may be that some 

 fingers still smart from contact with that fire. Other some may 

 dread to make the test for themselves. But that Duncan C. Fell 

 built up for himself a profitable trade, in a single variety of 



