1870.] secretary's report. 31 



horizon of dollars and cents, and those not drawn from its treasury, to that 

 brighter vision so sure to dawn upon an enlarged and liberal policy. The ex- 

 pediency of offering generous premiums for pre-eminent skill, as illustrated in 

 collections of flowers, fruits, and vegetables, to be open solely to the competi- 

 tion of professional gardeners, is presented for your careful consideration, in 

 the assured conviction that no otherwise can a more judicious expenditure be 

 sanctioned. 



The price of admission to our future exhibitions should also be wisely con- 

 sidered and adjusted. It may be true that a higher tariff", imposed upon fewer 

 objects, will produce equal or more revenue, although experience in determin- 

 ing proper rates of postage or the amount of fare upon public conveyances, is 

 eloquent and emphatic to the contrary. But our treasury does not require to 

 be filled by an exaction of the last cent, nor do we " encourage the practice 

 and promote the science of horticulture" by rendering our exhibitions more 

 difficult of access. A shilling is a large sum in the eyes of a Paisley weaver ; 

 and yet that humble class of workmen, who would find themselves virtually 

 excluded from our rates of admission, have attained a world-wide reputation 

 by a specialty in floriculture. Scarcely can the temples of the living God be 

 opened save with a golden key, their doors upon golden hinges turning. Let 

 not the votaries of Pomona and Flora be debarred from the indulgence of an 

 innocent pleasure, in the exercise of their simple ministry, because of an " 

 unchecked greed. 



Since the commencement of this report, a pear has been exhibited at one 

 of the weekly re-unions of the Society, that may well exact a word of notice. 

 A seedling originated by Hon. John Milton Earle, to whom this Society has 

 been so long indebted for many and various services, and with whose parent- 

 age it is but vaguely indentified under the name of Earle's Russett ; its 

 apparently confirmed excellence should render it alike a source of pride to him 

 and of interest to ourselves. Additions to the list of fruits, of approved good 

 quality, are too rare to justify the unhesitating acceptance of every new can- 

 didate. It may be said of Earle's Russett, that it has been nursed with care 

 and developed to an almost perfect assurance of decided superiority. Not 

 entirely dissimilar to the Beurre Easter, in flavor, though with more sprightli- 

 ness than that coy variety, the proof of this pudding also is evolved from the 

 eating. The shrinking modesty of him to whom we owe the origin of this 

 seedling, will, it is hoped, suffice to excuse the loudness of the blare which thus 

 unblushingly trumpets his achievment. 



There is one field of usefulness, almost entirely neglected in this community, 

 which it would seem the especial duty of this society, with its ample means, to 

 possess and cultivate. A plague of lecturers, it is true, already infests our 

 public halls, countless and pertinacious as the flies in Egypt. But lectures 

 that are other than inane and drivelling platitudes ; that are instructive to an 

 audience because the speaker is master of his theme ; may be told off" upon 



