72 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [186-t. 



A. D. 1864. 



ANIs^UAL REPORT 



OF 



EDWARD W. LINCOLN, Serrefary and Librarian. 



To ihe Members of tlie Worcester County Horticultural Society : 



By the action of the Trustees in directing the removal of the Library of the 

 Society to its own Hall, followed by the delegation of the duties of the Libra- 

 rian to the Secretary, and by the simultaneou? institution of a series of weekly 

 exhibitions, it became incumbent upon the undersigned to submit to the Society 

 at its annual meeting in January, A. D. 1862, a concise summary of its trans- 

 actions for the year then just expired. Tn the pi-eparation of that narrative, 

 much embarrassment was avoided by an absolute declination to consider where 

 the functions of the Librarian commenced, or those of the Secretary deter- 

 mined. To that precedent, imperative of necessity, it seems all the more proper 

 now to adhere, in view of the approbation of the Society, as evinced in the 

 merger of the two offices, and the subsequent official sanction of the summary 

 by the request of the Trustees for its publication. 



It is with great gratification, upon this recurrence of the annual meeting 

 that the undersigned is able to felicitate the Society upon its present condition. 

 The past year has been one of eminent prosperity and usefulness. By that 

 correction of errors which is inevitable upon the comparison and interchange 

 of views ; by the circulation of sound information, based materially upon indi» 

 vidual experience ; by frequent displays of Flowers and Fruits ; by the intro- 

 duction and diffusion of new varieties, or if not new, of but local notoriety, 

 and of the greater value for being indigenous ; and by the contribution of 

 liberal premiums for products that have ordinarily received too little attention ; 

 but, above all, by the diligent increase of its membership ; the Society has 

 amply vindicated the wisdom of the Legislature which incorporated it ^^for the 

 purpose of advancing the science and encouraying and imp>roving the practice 

 of horticulture.''' 



The Library has been freely used, and its advantages are better appreciated. 

 While it cannot compete in popularity with those collections for which stately 

 houses are built ; that swell plethoric catalogues, requiring a legion of servi- 

 tors, and bewildering by their very vastness ; and on whose account we might 

 well pray for a modern Omar; it may yet be doubted if it does not surpass all 



