1875.] REPORT OF SECRERATY. 63 



cultivation of this Bramble, as the English terra the Blackberry, might 

 commend itself. To all who have not, and who are destitute of a pair of 

 buckskin breeches, its spines must be decidedly repellant. With rows 

 sufficiently wide apart to permit the use of a cultivator, its growth ought 

 not to be allowed so rank as to obstruct the pickers who are to follow in 

 due time. To what extent the Wachusett merits its appellation of 

 ''Thornless," your Secretary is unable to testify from personal observa- 

 tion. Its hearty appreciation, however, by our zealous associate, Mr. 

 Thomas A. Dawson, who proposes to extend his already considerable 

 plantation, strongly encourages the hope that the Wachusett may be the 

 variety so long desired. With regard to quality, nothing better need be 

 sought. And, should it insist upon retaining its spines, it will only place 

 itself in the same unalterable category with the veteran Democrat, who 

 forgetteth not, neither doth he learn; or that "truly loyal" fellow-citi- 

 zen, of whom it is as true now as of yore, that his hide cannot be bleached. 



Commenting upon the International Exhibition at Cologne, in the 

 German Empire, held during the current season and closed but recently, 

 the accomplished Editor of the Gardeners' Chronicle (Eng), remarks : 

 " Of the practice of buying plants for Exhibition purposes, of which there 

 " w'ere so many obvious cases at Cologne and which, unfortunately, pre- 

 " vails also in this country, we shall have more to say on another occasion. 

 " It is a practice which if it be, as many consider, to some extent inevita- 

 " ble, should be hedged round by restrictions, and should be done openly 

 " and publicly, so that the public may know which exhibitor buys his 

 " spurs and which wins them by his own skill." It is not impossible that 

 a keen suspicion and close scrutiny might find application for this cen- 

 sure near home. But the instances are not numerous and ijrobably inno- 

 cence of intentional deceit would be pleaded. Yet the wrong is none the 

 less that credit is obtained for skillful culture of Elower or Fruit than it 

 would be were a man, upon the verge of bankruptcy, and in its actual con- 

 templation, to collect every cent upon which he could lay his hands be- 

 fore he actually absconded. Horticulture is a poor pursuit indeed if not 

 scrupulously honorable. 



Your co-operation has been solicited by the United States Centen- 

 nial Commission. What precise shape such co-operation can assume, 

 your Secretary is unable, at present, to state. It has occurred to him, 

 however, that you might in the event of a discontinuance of the Annual 

 Autumnal Exhibition, propose premiums for Fruits that have origi- 

 nated within the County; in amount sufficient to compel a production of 

 the very best specimens. Those specimens that gained the premiums 



