ADDRESS 



OF 



HON. FRANCIS H. DEWEY, 



PKESIDEKT. 



Delivered Thursday, September 22d, 1870. 



Ladies and Gentlemen of the Worcester County Horticultural Societi/ : 



Of the present exhibition as a whole, I need not speak ; it speaks for itself; 

 its glorious success gladdens our hearts and proclaims that Mechanics Hall is 

 not too large for the annual display of the choice and superior fruits, the rare 

 and beautiful plants and flowers, and the no less creditable and valuable col- 

 lection of vegetables which the horticulturists of Worcester County can 

 always contribute. Nor need I remind you of the intellectual entertainment 

 of last evening. What other society can boast of having enjoyed the same 

 evening, the instructive eloquence of our ex-president (Gov. Bullock), the 

 inspiring suggestions and experience of the President of the Massachusetts 

 Horticultural Society (J. F. C. Hyoe, Esq.), and the rich stores of agricul- 

 tural learning, and well-told stories of the President of the New England 

 Agricultural Society (Hon. George B. Lorino). 



Our Society, formed in the year 1840. this week holds, strictly speaking, its 

 thirtieth annual exhibition. Only in one year, in 1861, has the annual exhi- 

 bition been omitted ; then, as the record reads, " in consequence of the light- 

 ness of the crop of fruits of every species." 



In a review of the past and a comparison of our humble beginning, and our 



present prosperous position, we find good cause for congratulation upon the 



success which has attended the efforts of our predecessors and ourselves. In 



1840, with few or no members admitted free, the receipts at the close were only 



2 



