16 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1889. 



our members, heretofore famous for the facility with which he 

 could extract animal as well as vegetable blood from a turnip, 

 afid whose diversity of tomatoes from one and the same stalk 

 bade fair to originate a new genesis, has abandoned his idols, 

 succumbing to the attractions and attrition of house to house 

 traffic. Years since, the venerable Charles Richardson set an 

 example, placing Triomphe de Gand upon our tables for seven 

 (7) successive weeks, all the specimens being in peerless condition 

 and size. Now, that variety is discarded ; its excellence a tradi- 

 tion cherished by a few of your older members, while your pre- 

 miums are literally the prey of novelties that would never be 

 grown if they were but thoroughly known. Joseph C. Lovell is 

 no longer alive to astonish us by his unlimited collection of 

 American grapes, and to compel attention to the merits of his 

 subject, wherein his faith was as sincere as it was manifested in 

 the downright earnestness of his lionest nature. The huckster 

 can be trusted to look out for himself, as he does! If a pear 

 will sell it is the pear for him. The old Chelmsford would 

 meet his want, as well as Earlc's Bergamot ! the Lord forgiving 

 your Secretaiy for naming the two in the same connection. 

 The Clairgeau is to him a very symbol of excellence, — as it were 

 a paragon among fruits. If it attracts the eye and relaxes the 

 purse-strings, w)iy should he care if it does not also tickle the 

 palate ! But the conscience of a Horticultural Society cannot be 

 so easygoing nor pliant. It must strive for pre-eminence or fall 

 far short of the purpose of its existence. Would outward ap- 

 pearance sell the Ansault, Lucrative, or even the Seckel ! Possi- 

 bly the casual streak of crimson to Earlc's Bergamot might find 

 a market, more or less sluggish, for that variety, but its accept- 

 ance and rank should not be suffered to depend upon the hazard 

 of color. Bcune Giffard is indisputably the best pear of its 

 brief season. Yet it is allowed to die out to make room for 

 Clapp's Favorite, alike large and tasteless, but oh ! so pretty. 

 Intrinsic positive merit is the only sure ground whereon a society 

 like this can base its commendation. Lacking that, whatsoever 

 else may characterize them, nor flower or fruit can deserve our 

 approval. And without such merit, it is safe to predict that 

 popular favor cannot be retained long. 



