26 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1895.. 



has been the accession to the Society of most of you compared 

 with my own service of now fifty years ; I am tempted to won- 

 der if you clearly appreciate your solid position as members of 

 this Worcester County Horticultural Society ! Has it been im- 

 pressed upon you as a vital, ever-present consciousness that 

 you are not alone " citizens of no mean city," but that your 

 association with this especial Society lends dignity to your- 

 selves as individuals and enforces respect for the municipality 

 wherein you elect to dwell. Perhaps, as one of the very oldest 

 among you, who is spared while all around him, youth and age, 

 have been gathered in indiscriminate harvest, it may be per- 

 mitted me to exhort you to keep ever in mind your high 

 privileges, and to maintain them unimpaired so far as constant 

 vigilance will permit. You constitute one of two, — certainly 

 not more than three, — societies, specifically organized and desig- 

 nated Horticultural, that enjoy repute, have earned sound credit 

 and character, and possess subtantial property that is free from 

 onerous encumbrance. You admit, welcoming even, all who 

 are worthy, from street or lane, from town or farm house ; but 

 then, let all, when associated, become loyal horticulturists ! 

 We want neither Goo-goos ! nor Garoos ! neither A. P. A.'s, — 

 nor Americans that are ineradicably Irish. Admit plain farmer, 

 or titled granger; original Yankee, or receptive foreigner; 

 drawing the line at turbulent Huntschagist or unspeakable 

 Turk ! For traditions trace back to Eden wherein was — "a Gar- 

 den (Hortus) eastward," in which was put the man "whom He 

 had formed, and from the ground whereof He made to grow 

 every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food." 

 Our lines are cast in pleasant places, if so be that we are minded 

 to enjoy them. Heat may be oppressive at times ; and then 

 again the mercury falls below zero ; to exceeding gain of the 

 coal trust ! Also drought occurs, as the men who have idle 

 dams to sell are well aware. But so, in emergency, supervene 

 spells of thirty-six hours, in which the flood-gates of heaven 

 are open, a half-foot of rain refreshing the parched earth with- 

 out leave or purchase from <« protected" manufacturer. As 

 individuals, you would fare no better, it matters not where you 



