30 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1888. 



There was little complaint of Pear-Blight during the past 

 year. Shall we therefore conclude that there were no Bacteria 

 to do harm, or instead that they had lapsed into "innocuous 

 desuetude ? " Perhaps Science will exclaim, in view of our 

 comparative exemption from this dreaded scourge, for the season 

 just past, — " so much the worse for the facts ! " But to those of 

 us who prefer proof to assumption, or dogmatism ; and who 

 almost incline to faith in the periodicity of disease; food for 

 rejQection is supplied in the significant fact of the recovery, by 

 many old favorites among pears, of their pristine health and 

 vigor. Benrre Diel and Flemish Beauty were almost abandoned, — 

 so sure were they to crack, becoming worthless. And yet, of 

 late years, specimens of either variety have been shown in our 

 Hall, of unsurpassed excellence, whether regard was paid to size, 

 symmetry, or beauty of appearance. Man had accomplished 

 nothing to effect a cure. Was Nature idle ? 



The failure of the Gkape to mature its fruit has been a serious 

 disappointment and loss. So unpropitious was the season that 

 the wonder is that any clusters should have become edible, — let 

 alone fit to eat. In these closing days of October, the Diana 

 hangs half-colored, where it never before went back upon a confi- 

 dent faith. Under similar conditions the Barry, Lindlcy, and 

 Massasoit of the Rogers Hybrids ; and the Brighton, of more 

 recent origin ; were the only varieties that did not set the children's 

 teeth on edge. Of those, especially, persistent trial warrants the 

 statement that where they can be grown so as to be shielded 

 from the earlier frosts, they will be sure to repay cultivation with 

 a crop thoroughly ripe. The broad jet to a modern dwelling- 

 house answers the requirement admirably : if the building is of 

 brick, the warmth of the walls will be a decided advantage. In 

 a garden, where the vines are trained upon an upright trellis, a 

 six-inch board will supply an adequate coping. Glass would be 

 better where economy is not urgent. That the Grape can be 

 grown, and well-ripened, almost anywhere in Worcester County, 

 has been fully demonstrated. So delicious a fruit is worth all 

 the pains that its cultivation may require. True, original sin 

 lies latent in its juice ! But then how easy to suspend the laws 



