58 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1874. 



Spring-blooming Bulbs. The contributions to that show were many and 

 various, affording good promise for its repetition hereafter. 



Much difficulty has been experienced throughout the year by the 

 tardiness of the seasons — flowers and fruits scarcely ever maturing at the 

 date anticipated. For the first time in fifteen years the Annual Exhibi- 

 tion of Roses aud Strawben-ies had to be postponed. A similar necessity 

 of deferring their exhibition became imperative in the case of all the 

 Small Fruits in turn. 



The crop of Strawberries during the past season, and their display upon 

 our tables, was never svxrpassed nor even equaled. The prevalence of the 

 finer varieties among the collections was a gratifying and especially no- 

 ticeable feature. The cultivation of the Jucunda or Downing exacts but 

 little more care, and their superior flavor, whether grown for home con- 

 sumption or the market, amply rewards one for additional labor. No true 

 horticulturist should be content with aught but the best. The commu- 

 nity will speedily come to appreciate the success of his efforts, and remu- 

 nerate him by taking the surplus of his croj) upon his own terms. 



The display of Raspberries and Cherries was meagre enough. It 

 will be cause for regret, should the cultivation of the Raspberry, conge- 

 nial as it is to our soil, be generally relinquished. It is true that the 

 Peach is imported from the South, to become its successful competitor in 

 open market. But even the Peach may fail elsewhere, as during the 

 present year. Besides which, the one costs but the labor of cultivation, 

 while to procure the other we must first obtain the money to send away 

 for the purchase of fruits that fail to mature at home. Although this can 

 hardly be predicated with exactness of the Peach, grown well and con- 

 stantly in former years throughout Worcester County, and requiring, 

 doubtless, only the happy conjuncture of sound trees aud a suitable soil 

 to reward the assiduity of the orchardist. 



It has been gratifying to notice the reappearance of the Plum upon 

 our tables, after its utter loss had been apprehended. Nothing but dili- 

 gence and ordinary watchfulness are required for its successful culture. 

 A society that numbers so many good pomologists among its members 

 should not allow itself to be thwarted by an insignificant insect, in the 

 effort to propagate any species of fruit. That which has just been said of 

 the Plum, may be repeated even more truly of the Quince. Formerly 

 grown in every garden, how few bushes have been planted to replace 

 those that were destroyed by the terrible frost of a dozen years since. 

 And yet, with their vitality unimpaired, a crop is more certainly gathered 

 from them than from the Apple. Delicious for conserves, there is ever 

 a steady demand for them, which it would appear to be for the interest of 



