1889.] TRANSACTIONS* 13 



It has been asserted by old-time devotees of Hard Cider, that 

 A. D. 1840, the cherry was at its prime in "Worcester, on the 

 seventeenth day of Jnne. The sons of political veterans saw a 

 renewal of that miracle, as it were, for a Massachusetts season ; 

 and could hug themselves in the fond delusion that the preces- 

 sion of fruits, like the election of the saints, had been a matter 

 of foreordination, and was no longer relegated to the helter- 

 skelter of the polls. 



Our schedule for A. D. 1889, was carefully framed after a full 

 comparison and study of past seasons. Yet, among the earlier 

 fruits, Gov. Garland and Waterloo peaches were shown upon the 

 twenty-fifth of July, when we had only ventured to anticipate 

 early varieties, by a tentative gratuity on the eighth of August. 

 Beatrice called for August 15th, was mature upon the first of 

 that month. Among vegetables. Beauty tomato and Marrow 

 squash were both siiown upon our tables August 1st, precisely 

 two (2) weeks ahead of their assignment. The Bartlett pear was 

 necessarily advanced, to prevent it being said that an exhibition 

 of the Worcester County Horticultural Society was duly held, 

 whereat no specimens of that standard varietj' were available. 

 In mid September, Louise Bonne that is not gathered must needs 

 be picked up, bruised, from the ground. 



It would hardly be worth while to speculate upon chances 

 yet remote; whether the winter is to close in upon us ruthlessly, 

 or to recede as a twelvemonth since in a dream of ethereal 

 mildness. Suffice it to say that this reversal of all climatic 

 probal)ilities introduces a new element among tlie calculations of 

 the horticulturist; as though the problems for his practical solu- 

 tion were not already perplexing enough. 



Does your Secretary then surrender his faith, so emphatically 

 declared of late in your presence, that it is possible to grow fruit 

 here in Worcester County at a profit ! Recognizing the full 

 force of adverse conditions, which do not now for the first time 

 dominate the situation, he can yet perceive that the plague of 

 insects will not be remedied by nature alone. He believes in, 

 and would insist upon the destruction of infested specimens, 

 with as much promptitude and as thorough devotion to the work 

 as the careful housewife manifests in the extermination of the 



