22 ^VORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, [1870. 



The Annual Autumnal Exhibition is of such recent date ; its magnitude must 

 be so vividly impressed upon your minds ; that there can be but slight need for 

 enlarging upon the subject here. The superb hall happily set forth as, in its 

 turn, it was exquisitely relieved by the luxuriant profusion and brilliant color- 

 ing of flower and fruit. There was, even there, however, no superfluity of 

 space. The utmost that can be said is, that an exhibition, unusually extensive, 

 was so arranged as to aff'ord ample verge for the easy circulation of visitors. 

 Had the various lots of apples and pears been properly disposed, and less 

 crowded or even jumbled together as they unfortunately were, the need of 

 additional tables would have required a relinquishment of yet more of the 

 unoccupied floor. In this connection, and as pertinent to a proper display of 

 the articles contributed, the Secretary feels it his imperative duty to again invite 

 your attention to a most pressing want which is sure to obtrude itself unpleas- 

 antly upon such occasions. Our table-furniture is utterly insufficient for the 

 uses of the Society. Under the vigilant custody of their chairman, the Com- 

 mittee of Arrangements have found an effectual cure for that mysterious 

 "shrinkage" which was wont to curtail so materially the cloth provided for 

 covering the naked boards. But the woful deficiency in our supply of plates 

 can be remedied by no amount of watchful supervision. It is absolutely indis- 

 pensable, if our Exhibitions are to maintain the proportions that they have 

 lately assumed, that this deficiency should be supplied at an early day. A 

 pattern of the style adopted by the Massachusetts Society, has been kindly 

 furnished and now lies upon the table of the Secretary. Assurances have been 

 given that a suitable quantity of such ware, equally substantial and of similar 

 convenient shape, can be procured, if deemed advisable, at a very reasonable 

 cost. 



By the third rule of the Committee of Arrangements, adopted in the very 

 infancy of the Society, it is strictly required that all specimens ofiered for 

 premiums shall have been grown, by the competitors, within the County of 

 Worcester. 



There is no similar restriction upon membership, and the Secretary has never 

 hesitated, upon application, to place upon the roll the name of a postulant 

 from another County. It is suggested whether it may not better comport with 

 the cosmopolitan tendencies of the times and the present standing of the Society 

 to relax or rescind the restriction of the third article. Our exhibition offers 

 the only practicable field for display and competition, by reason of proximity to 

 cultivators in the Western Counties. Our own Society is the only one exclu- 

 sively devoted to Horticulture, west of Suflbik. We could well spare an oc- 

 casional premium for the sake of superior variety and a wider interest. 



The fifth (5th) rule of the same Committee has caused so much dissension 

 and given rise to so many different interpretations, that an authoritative and 

 final decision, in the premises, is demanded in the interest. of the Society. 



5. No person shall be entitled to receive more than one premium for the same 



