34 WORCESTER COUNTY HOliTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1871. 



diagrams of the Knox plough, which is deservedly popular, was 

 received by some of the audience as a facetious reflection on Hon. G. 

 F. Hoar,* who was present, and they applauded accordingly.) He 

 lauded agricidture as his chosen pursuit but would unite with Col. 

 Wilder hand in hand as he devotes himself to the feminine side of 

 this question and In-ings to the work all the taste and all the beauty that 

 go with the art of horticulture. Thanking you for your attention, and 

 congratulating you that the lateness of the hour and the necessity of 

 my return to Boston must cut short my speech, I congratulate you 

 upon the success of j^our societ}^ and wish it all prosperity in the 

 future. [Applause.] 



Hon. Stephen Salisbury was called upon to speak in response to a 

 sentiment alluding to the city of Worcester, and made a short and 

 entertaining speech. He had enjoyed the good things of Worcester a 

 long time, he said, and had good reason to rejoice in its prosperity, 

 and in the prosperity of the Worcester County Horticultural Society, 

 for which he considered himself entitled to some credit, inasmuch as 

 he had alwa_ys brought to its fairs large contributions of fruit, flowers 

 and vegetables, for other people to beat. He gave an interesting 

 sketch of the manner in which the early exhibitions of the society 

 were managed, and paid a high tribute to the zeal and interest of the 

 late F. W. Paine, in the society. 



Samuel F. Haven, Esq., Secretary of the American Antiquarian 

 Society, and the first Secretary of the Horticultural Society after its 

 incorporation by the General Court, in response to the call of the 

 President, made an interesting speech in the course of which he 

 indulged in pleasant reminiscences of old days — of the years preceding 

 or immediately following 1840, which he styled the Augustan j-ear of 

 Worcester. He described the Worcester of old times, when she 

 almost incarnated herself in the annual Agricultural and Horticultural 

 exhibition. It was a small town then, liut he believed that in political 

 and social position and importance, in standing and influence in the 

 Commonwealth, and in its men of enterprise, intellect and ability, it was 

 then comparatively greater than to-day. He closed with an apprecia- 

 tive tribute to the memory of William Lincoln, saying that the place 

 he occupied a quarter of a century ago here is still vacant. He here 



-■Note. — Hon George F. Hoar was President of the Republican State Convention, 

 which, Just a weeli previous, failed to nominate Dr. liOrlng as its candidate for (invernor. 

 At this same convention, as stated lugubriously by himself, Stephen S. Foster attended 

 the ohsequies of his hutlcr. 



