1872.] REPOKT OF SECRETARY AND LIBRARIAN. 65 



to all intents and puqioses, it is as exclusively a local society as our own- 

 How fortunate would it be should a combined effort of all Horticultural 

 Societies result in a general display of the Flowers and Fruits of Massa- 

 chusetts, at the period of the Session of the American Pomological So- 

 ciety. If the older association, untrue to its name, will not initiate action 

 in this matter, it is suggested for your serious consideration whether it 

 may not be advisable for the Worcester County Society to take prelimin- 

 ary steps toward its realization. The true Horticultural Society of Mas- 

 sachusetts should recognize no other limitations of its prospective and 

 possible usefulness than the capacities of our soil for production. 



A communication has been received by your Secretary, from Mr. Wm. 

 Phipps Blake, who subscribes himself " Executive Commissioner" of the 

 United States Centennial Commission, wherein the co-operation of this. 

 Society is solicited in the effort to achieve an International Exhibition in 

 Philadelphia, A. D. 1876. As the time is somewhat remote, and because 

 additional details of plan and purpose are promised, it may not be expe- 

 dient for this Society to take any immediate action. Whatever attention 

 you may devote to the project will doubtless be profitably bestowed. 



The imiDortation of Eruit into this Commonwealth, especially of 

 Peaches, has developed within a few years past into a business of great 

 importance. There is no reason why it should not continue to increase 

 m magnitude, supplying the community cheaply and in abundance with 

 this choicest product of more equable climes, if reasonable supervision 

 can be exercised over its method of packing and transportation. But the 

 grower is too apt to be careless, and even when he does exercise due pre- 

 caution, all his heedfulness may be neutralized by the recklessness of 

 railway or steamboat porters. Reclamation has invariably proved useless, 

 it appearing to be a rule with common carriers to discredit and reject all 

 claims for damage upon their especial lines of conveyance. This evil is 

 rapidly attaining proportions that will demand legislative intervention for 

 its effectual remedy or suppression. It would seem to be within the pe- 

 culiar province of this Society so to direct its influence as to insure, so 

 far as may be, the due safeguard of the more perishable Emits from de- 

 lays in transmission, thefts in transit, and savage fracture of case or con- 

 tents. Your Secretary bestowed much attention upon this subject 

 throughout the Summer, and has been fortunate enough to obtain from 

 one of the largest dealers in all species of delectable fruit, as well as some 

 that would be better described by a different adjective, the following note 

 of suggestions as to the preferable method of packing and carriage : 



