48 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1892. 



with their accompanying vases were procured. Also the rectan- 

 o-ular dishes specially designed for and adapted to the exhibition 

 of fruit. Within these dishes or plates, bearing (not as of old 

 the name of the contributor) simply a number, each specimen 

 reposes — not hiding the defects of some other specimen by being 

 piled thereon, or having its own defects thus hidden, but with an 

 individuality of its own, opened to the rigid scrutiny of a judge 

 who is exacting because required to be so, and impartial because 

 without motive to be otherwise. 



Under these conditions and with these appliances, with the 

 opportunity furnished each meml)er through its weekly displays 

 to observe every variety of flower fruit and vegetable in its 

 season, flowers in full bloom and fruit and vegetable in full 

 maturity, the influence which our Society has exerted not only 

 upon its own members but upon the general public has been of 

 a marked character. It has secured the cultivation of fewer 

 varieties, but those varieties the best. It has directed care and 

 attention to fruit while in the process of growing and ripening, 

 and to the importance of requiring perfection in all specimens 

 allowed to reach maturity. It has been largely instrumental in 

 the creation of an aesthetic taste and the general diffusion of 

 pomological knowledge. A visit to one of the Society's rose, 

 strawberry or chrysanthemum shows, is a liberal education. 



This Society has given special attention and encouragement to 

 choice varieties of fruit whicii have originated in Worcester 

 County. It has rescued from oblivion, named and given to the 

 public, stamped with its approval, many such varieties of apples. 

 One such variety is the Sutton Beauty, an apple originating in 

 Sutton, named by the Societ}', and which in shape and color is 

 almost the exact counterpart of the HubbaixJston Nonsuch. 

 There is every reason to believe that the Sutton Beauty was 

 shown at the first exhibition in 1840, as in the report of 

 the committee on fruits at that exhibition we find this entry, 

 "'Unknown,' an apple shown by Major Tenny of Sutton resem- 

 bling the Hubbardston Nonsuch." 



Another variety is the Holden Pippin, now the Holden, 

 originally called the Hog-pen Apple, of which I have already 



