64 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1875. 



display you took the trouble, (aud it wus uot slight,) to select and bring 

 to our Hall of Pomona, sixteen hundred and fifty (1650) Apples, and 

 four thousand two hundred and seventy-two (4272) Pears. Relieving 

 yoiuselves of this coustautl}' recurring effort, zealous as you are to un- 

 dertake it, in the interest of Horticulture and of the Society, you would 

 be free to perfect those limited exhibitions, which are perhaps of as much 

 utility because not too extended for comprehension, or inspection at a 

 glance. With a more generous appropriation, in such a case easily 

 spared, you could extend liberal encouragement to displays of particular 

 Flowers and Fruits whose wide dissemination may appear desirable. 

 The Hyacinth in spring ; the Gladiolus and Aster in Autumn ; and the 

 Grape, Peach, Plum and Quince in their respective seasons. Supplying 

 a pecuniary stimulus, where it is needed ; you can also withhold it in 

 those Pomological or Floral genera wherein it is no longer required. 



Should the discontinuance of our Annual Autumnal Exhibition, if 

 only for a time, tend to a reduction of our very considerable debt, in 

 that fact alone might be found a justification of the proposed policy. 

 Thereafter — upon a resumption of those General Exhibitions, should you 

 conclude to resume them, it is to be hoped that admission to them will be 

 as free as the air. At that time, — near or remote, — let us cease attempt- 

 ing to make merchandise of our knowledge, or experience ; but throw 

 our doors wide open to all who can be induced to enter. Our Legacies 

 and Benefactions were not given to us to be multiplied by discount, but 

 rather as a Trust, to be managed for the best interest of the community. 

 Let Bucolism speculate, if it prefer, upon the vulgar appetite for coarse 

 excitement ; and exact its penny for the monstrosities of the side-show 

 and the knaveries of the track. But be it our higher election to go out 

 into the b3'-ways and lanes, and, finding those who are blind and halt in 

 the pleasant ways of Horticulture, compel them to come in. So shall we 

 best fulfil the disinterested aim of the founders of our Society. In this 

 way, and this only, can we answer the demands of the times, in prompt 

 recognition of the changes in popular taste and requirement. And, at 

 one and the same time discharge our inexorable duty whereby we are 

 bound, in all honor, to "Advance the Science and encourage and improve 

 the Practice of Horticulture." 



All which is respectfully submitted by 



EDWARD WINSLOW LINCOLN, 



Secretary. 



Hall of Flora, 



Worcester, Mass., Nov. 3, A. d. 1876. 



