PREFACE. 



At the Annual Meeting of the Society, November 5th, A. D. 

 1890, it was voted — that Messrs. O. B. Hadwen, 



James Draper, and 

 Charles E. Parker, 

 be a Committee to consider the matter of providing Essays and 

 starting Discussions upon Horticultural topics, on successive 

 Thursdays, throughout the winter, with power to act. 



This publication results directly from the action of that 

 Committee. In most cases, it has been the good fortune of 

 the Society to secure a revised report from the Essayists. 

 Where that was impossible, resort to the columns of the 

 contemporary press became imperative. In the better time 

 coming, it is to be hoped that the relative consequence of 

 matters under current observation will be more accurately 

 weighed ; and that success in growing flowers or fruit will 

 command as close study and careful notice as endurance in the 

 prize-ring, or sinuosity in sliding to base. 



As it happens, the contributions of our own members to the 

 lore of the various topics is almost entirely lost. It is hoped 

 that no injustice will be found done to the guests of the Society, 

 where their remarks are restricted to an abstract ; and that the 

 Society will be held to no responsibility for opinions that, 

 howsoever correct, must be regarded simply as the utterance of 

 their authors. 



For tJie Oommittee on Publication. 



Edward Winslow Lincoln. 



Worcester, Mass., A. D. 1891. 



