70 WURCESTEK COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1864. 



to the coitntri/, at least iiort/i of Vinjinia."' He concluded, however, with the 

 generous proffer of a ^' few thousands of the European Cork Oak," for which he 

 had then neither demand nor use. To all which it was sufficient to reply that, 

 by the issue of " A Catalogue of Plants, Bulbs, &c., for distribution," without 

 other remark, tlic Department authorized the supposition tliat the Plants, &c., 

 were of value. And, if a distribution was to be had, it could only be done 

 equitably in the order of application, pro rata. Certainly the application of 

 this Society might have received attention, since it followed almost immediately 

 upon the receipt of the " Catalogue.'' Moreover, it would seem that the time 

 to disparage the worth of the collection should be prior to its dissemination, 

 and, at any rate, anterior to a vote of thanks for a portion of it by cultivators 

 so skillful as the horticulturists of Eastern Pennsylvania. That there was 

 ^^ nothing of interest to the countr;/, at least north of Virginia" will be some- 

 what refreshing to those of our florists who trace in the " Catalogue" among 

 other items, the following: 



" (Jladiolus, 3.1 varieties 2000 phints;. 



Roses, 80 varieties 8000 plants." 



The letter of .June 22d closed the correspondence. Mr. Saunders, and with 

 him, undoubtedly, the Department, firm in the conviction that they distributed 

 what tbev had ; that it was distributed to whom they pleased ; and that it was 

 not worth distributing at all. Your Secretary as thoroughly persuaded that, in 

 resultant benefits to the community, the little finger of the petty Agricultural 

 Bureau of tlie Patent Office was thicker than the loins of the newer and conse- 

 quential Department. A statement of the gross receipts from the Department 

 of Agriculture during the first year of its existence will illustrate the advantages 

 derived from it by this Society, and fitly close this digression : 



Five copies Report of the Department. 



Six quart-bags (jf ^Vheat, sent after neaaon of phintiiif/. 



Two pounds, more or less, of Vcj^cetable Seeds, viz : Turnip, Beet, <tc., Ruta Baga, &c. 



Two packages of Flower Seeds, viz : Mignonette, Larkspur, Marygold, Portulacca, &c. 



This Society comprises within its province the entire County of Worcester. 

 Should the same proportion hold good throughout the Commonwealth, the real, 

 practical utility of the Department of Agriculture to Massachusetts may be a 

 theme for admiration, but will scarcely involve a problem in arithmetic. 



The meetings for discussion were seasonably resumed, and have been produc- 

 tive of unquestionable benefit. In this particular, however, the Society has 

 formidable obstacles with which to contend. No sooner does an individual 

 evince interest in our purpose and efforts than he is forthwith appropriated by 

 the public for its own service. Whether superior qualifications for the faithftil 

 discharge of civil trusts do result from that assiduous and careful industry 

 essential to horticultural success, it is not incumbent upon us here to decide. 

 Let it suffice to remark that, if the Society is made poorer by the fact, it must 

 find solace in the knowledge that the department of State charities, not less 

 than the affairs of our own municipality, are so much the more wisely adminis- 



