1890.] TRANSACTIONS. 13 



upon the tables of old, — from him that hath not shall be taken 

 away even that which he hath. Can we sell to him of whom we 

 will not buy ? 



Nevertheless, this Society was not founded for a bank of dis- 

 count or a savings institution. Its purpose was definite and spe- 

 cific unders : tood clearly at the date of its organization, and 

 which ought not to be left out of sight now that a half-century 

 draws to its close. Thanks to the munificence, foresight and 

 self-denial of the generation that preceded us, we have the good 

 fortune to possess an inheritance that supplies abundant means 

 for our legitimate uses. We may claim, with entire justice, that 

 we have suffered no waste of that talent. But, — has its value in- 

 creased, in our keeping ; or have we applied the increment to our 

 individual account ? Have we added to the store of knowledge 

 heretofore accumulated ; or are we ignobly, content to profit 

 by the hardly-won experience that puts it in our power to make 

 an exhibit from the results of other men's diligence and skill ? 



Simply resolved into a Society for tlie consideration of ques- 

 tions of high public policy ; and to whom is their proper decision 

 of greater moment than to the tillers of the soil; might we per- 

 chance hope to determine whether a thing is undesirable merely 

 because it is cheap ! I have known the year when a barrel of 

 Baldwin Apples could be had in exchange for an empty barrel ; 

 and again, when that quantity commanded but seventy-five cents 

 in open market. Was the fruit therefore worthless ? The chil- 

 dren did not think so, at the time. I can remember when a suit 

 of " Vermont Mixed " was as honest as the animal from whose 

 fleece it was woven ; and would hold a boy in safe suspense even 

 if the ladder or limb did give way ! Yet our modern shoddy is 

 higher-priced. Does it concern us, in Horticulture, to learn if 

 out-go enriches any one, — no matter whether it is denominated 

 tax or exaction, unless an income can be plainly shown to 

 counterbalance it ! Do we care whether barter, developed 

 into commerce, is necessarily a loss to those who engage in it ; or 

 mayhap involves reciprocal benefit to either party, enabling the 

 one in want to obtain that which the other has in superfluity ? Is 

 it a fact, or simply a bald, partisan assumption that, if we ship a 

 barrel of apples to an Englishman beyond the seas, we lose our 



