12 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1889. 



its liabitat raoist lowlands and even dense swamps. Have we — 

 blind leaders of the blind, — over-looked an actual fact, because 

 it lay so obviously before us, and disregarded the plain lesson that 

 it was meant to teach ! The best and dryest crop of squashes — 

 Marrow and Yokohama — that your Secretary ever grew, devel- 

 oped while they were subject to an incessant douche. He has 

 never forgotten that fact, although hesitating to deduce from it 

 an inflexible rule. Does this year afJbrd an analogy; and are we 

 warranted in the contention that irrigation may be found as es- 

 sential to successful Horticulture here in Worcester County as 

 it has approved itself in far Mormonia and Monogamia ? 



A marked preculiarit}' of the premature horticultural develop- 

 ment, this year, has been its unbroken continuity. Of yore, 

 there were often seasons whose promise was quickly blighted ; 

 wherein the opening crocus or Narcissus would be buried under 

 a foot of snow. The tulip has encouraged a hope, in early May, 

 that cold and persistent rains effecitually disappointed. This year 

 the strawl)erry was favored with intermittent showers until the 

 fecundity of such plants as were in existence made both palate 

 and spine tired ; consumer and grower alike wearying in well 

 doing. But then scarcely a single plantation of strawberries 

 came out from the winter in good condition. And that, not so 

 much owing to the season, which was unusually propitious, as to 

 the neglect of man to profit by his opportunities. The wliile, 

 raspberries spoiled, decaying in the young dog days, whose dense 

 moisture was prolific of a fungus or mildew between which there 

 neither was nor could be option. A. D. 1888-9, from the date of 

 your Chrysanthemum display until long after your first vernal 

 exhibition the skies smiled, the air was soft, and the temperature 

 uniformly moderate. No winter season within the memory of 

 any man now living was ever more genial. If, at any time, the 

 horticulturists of Worcester County were warranted in brigiit 

 anticipations it was especially in the Spring of 1889. But what 

 has been the harvest? If any fruit, the larger portion wormy, 

 or imperfect otherwise; of deficient flavor and untimely matura- 

 tion. Very likely the ground is carpeted or paved witii defec- 

 tive specimens; but the empty shelves of the fruit room oflFer 

 forlorn prospect for the hearty appetites of winter. 



