TRANSACTIONS, «S^c. 63' 



ny more years will elapse, before the members of our Society v,\\\ 

 compete successfully with those of other older Societies, whose ex- 

 perience has been much longer than our own. Under our organiza- 

 tion, timi- experience has undoubtedly greatly aided us, but %Wthout 

 our organization, it would have remained to this day, a sealed book 

 to nearly all of us. 



In awardinor the premiums, the Committee adhered to the rule 

 prescribed by the Committee of Arrangements, by which they were 

 obliged to give the two highest premiums to one individual, for the 

 same, or part of the same lot of fruit, and the second and third 

 highest premiums to another individual, in the same manner. 



Your Committee confess in all humility, that they are unable to 

 perceive clearly the justice of this rule. It appears to them, that it 

 would be more equal, to distribute the premiums more widely among 

 the members, and where a member has been awarded the highest 

 premium ''for the best and largest collection," that he should be ex- 

 cluded irom competition, for any other premium on the same collec- 

 tion. If it should be said, there is no merit or honor conferred by 

 the award of the two highest premiums for the two "best and largest 

 collections," then why offer such premiums? If it is meritorious to 

 take these premiums, then, in the humble opinion of your Commit- 

 tee, to take either of them, should confer a degree of honor suffi- 

 cient to satisfy the ambition of the most aspiring members. 



If, therefore, the Committee have viewed this matter correctly, 

 equity would seem to require after the bestowal of these two premi- 

 ums for the two "best and largest collections," that the other seven 

 premiums should be reserved for the encouragement of other com- 

 petitors, whose contribucious, though less in the number of good va- 

 rieties, yet contained specimens of many varieties of great beauty 

 and surpassing excellence, showing a degree of skill in the cultiva- 

 tion, quite worthy of the bounty of the Society. 



It may be proper to remark, that the Comrr.ittee had no difficulty 

 in coming to a decision in regard to the award of the premiums, be- 

 ing entirely unanimous on that point. Their chief regret was, that 

 they had not more premiums to bestow, for they observed many ex- 

 cellent specimens of varieties for which they would gladly have given 

 a premium, if the patronage of the Society had been at their com- 

 mand. 



They recommend to the Society, to award premiums as follows : 



For the best and largest collection, and tlie best grown, the Com- 

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