1875.] REPORT OF SECRETARY. 51 



Strawberries seen upon the tables of the Society. For high color ; — for 

 various and choice shades of flavor, when tested; and least and last, for 

 size; the exhibition of this delicious fruit, in 1875, will be memorable upon 

 our records as wholly unparalleled. Remembering the restricted fields 

 within which our Fragarians are cramped; that their market is limited 

 and, over and beyond all, penurious; and that Amateurs are more and 

 more tempted to abandon a toil, at best without appreciation; the only 

 source of wonder is, that any seedling should be exhibited, or that varie- 

 ties of promise should be introduced and patiently developed to degrees 

 of greater or less excellence. What might be accomplished by a change 

 of system; by fostering experiment and rewarding effort or achievement, 

 can only be inferred from observation of the result in other departments: 

 notably the Apple and Pear, which would almost seem able to take care 

 of themselves without further stimulus to home industry. A liberal pros- 

 pective premium for a seedling Strawberry, Raspberry, Blackberry, &c., 

 &c., cast upon the waters in good faith, might be borne back after many 

 days. A Seedling! with seed sown, — germ watched, — development crit- 

 icised, impregnation guarded and cross-fertilization prevented, or left to 

 the exclusive use and behoof of the Democratic politicians: — why should 

 not a Society like this, which can count in its necrology, William Lin- 

 coln and George Jaqtjes ; Colton, and him whose almost speaking Hke- 

 ness adorns our walls, — facile princeps; — originate as well as naturalize! 

 Sports are well enough. The origin of the SeckelFear is not defined with 

 precision, although the parent tree, as far as is known, grows in sufficient 

 proximity to entitle it to share in the Centennial of our Republic. Yet 

 Pomology should be an exact, if also a tentative science; its Fruits illus- 

 trating selection rather than survival. 



The cultivation of the Raspberry is steadily, if slowly, diminishing. 

 Why ? — is not so easy to determine. The berry is attractive in appear- 

 ance, and of luscious flavor. The only objection to it seems to be based 

 upon the necessity of affording protection to the canes throughout the 

 winter season. But the Strawberry cannot be left uncovered in assured 

 reliance upon a mantle of snow. The grape-vine, that may put forth 

 fresh and vigorous shoots in Spring, if simply extended upon the ground 

 will be killed to the root when exposed, upon a trellis, to cutting winds 

 and biting frost. The Raspberry yields profusely for weeks in sitccession. 

 The berries can be picked by a person standing upright, which, in itself, 

 is no slight recommendation to those of us who have stooped, for hours, 

 in the blazing sun of July, over a Strawberry-bed. These Reports have 

 never once omitted to urge upon the Pomologists of Worcester County 



