70 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1876. 



All this, — regard it as you choose, either as a school of instruction or 

 a harmless and healthy method of enjoyment, — the Society has deliber- 

 ately and wantonly forfeited. At an adjourned meeting of the Trustees, 

 on the 2d of December ult., it was decided to substitute for those weekly 

 meetings Two Monthly Exhibitions, in July and August ; a schedule of 

 Premiums being arranged for each and admission to both being free. 

 This plan was carried out but partially, as you are all aware. The July 

 Exhibition was precipitated into June, to secure Strawberries and Flowers 

 — the most desirable of which latter, Roses, were even then past redemp- 

 tion. In August there was absolutely nothing left to exhibit. The torrid 

 heat of an unusual Summer had parched foliage and bloom, withering alike 

 germ and fruit. The Raspberry was an utter failure, as a crop, and itg 

 scanty yield would have supplied but a meagre basis for a public exhibi- 

 tion. The fact is that there are not enough persons engaged in Horticul- 

 tural pursuits, in the vicinity of Worcester, to sustain in a proper manner 

 an elaborate monthly exhibition. No schedule of premiums can be framed 

 which will adapt itself to the varying scmsous. At the weekly meetings 

 this difficulty could be effectually obviated by authorizing and directing 

 committees to make allowance for specimens of either Flower, or Fruit, 

 that should have been forced into premature development owing to some 

 peculiarity of location and exposure. For two years past the inflexibility 

 of the Rules has worked injustice. The best display of Strawberries, in 

 several varieties, has been excluded from premium because ripened 

 before the absolute date of the exhibition. This was especially notice- 

 able of the Triomphe de Gand, most excellent collections of which 

 superior berry were early developed under conditions that have been 

 deemed wholly unfavorable. 



In his Report for the year 1871, Secretary Francis commented upon the 

 error of making the whole interest of the public centre upon a single 

 exhibition. He tersely remarks that " the unavoidable result is a certain 

 " sameness and an old story year after year." 



" Can we escape the evil of monotony by changing the season of 

 " the Annual Exhibition ? I think not ; for during no other week in 

 " the 3'ear are the productions of our gardens and orchards so numerous 

 " and varied. The true remedy is to magnify the other Exhibitions 

 " during the year. I am convinced that the horticultural resources of 

 "this vicinity would support, in a highly creditable manner, a series o*f 

 " weekly Exhibitions on a much larger scale than now, during a 

 " large part of the year, if only sufficient inducements were held to con- 

 " tributors and visitors by a liberal but judicious offer of premiums, by 

 " convenient arrangements in a pleasant room in a suitable location and 

 " by the presence of those known to be able and willing to give infer-' 



