66 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1873. 



than a bare abstract of Awards. If aught is to be gained from our Ex- 

 hibitions, it must be derived from a record of facts and observations, — 

 themselves the basis of comparison and ultimate conclusion. All this 

 takes time; and the time of any man fit to be Chairman of a Horticul- 

 tural Committee is worth something. 



Nor would a Supper, at which the Awards should be declared, be much 

 amiss. Some method must be adopted by which the Trustees shall be 

 enabled to pass upon the assignment of Premiums. Under the present 

 S3'stem, or lack of it, errors are constantly occurring, so that, when a com- 

 petitor calls for payment of what he supposes his due, he Yearns that it 

 belongs to a rival, and that there must have been some error in transcrip- 

 tion. While the whole business is too much and needlessly hurried now, 

 it is believed that it could be accui'ately and agreeably transacted at the 

 Supper-table. Provided, however, that there should be an inexorable 

 prohibition of tongue from the list of viands. 



In his last Annual Meport, your Secretary " urgently advised the aboli- 

 " ticfn of the existing system of classification," (of Apples and Pears,) 

 "as meaningless and unprofitable; and the substitution therefor of a di- 

 " rect competition between the different lots of the same variety." The 

 experience of ISTo confirms the wisdom of this advice. There is no par- 

 ticular objection to premiums for the best collection, nor to generous 

 offers for new varieties not before exhibited. But, with such exceptions, 

 the whole theory and practice of classification, (in servile imitation of the 

 Massachusetts Society,) which we ought to have outgrown and been 

 ashamed of long since, is a delusion and snare. Committees spend what 

 time is absolutely indispensable upon the Collections. But their interest 

 is aroused and their attention riveted, when called to judge the Single 

 Dishes. 



That you may the better comprehend the views of the Secretary, a 

 statement is submitted of the Awards for Pears, in Class 4, at the Au- 

 tumnal Exhibitions for 1872 and 1873 : 



1872. 



Xo. 1. — Bartlett, Belle Lucrative, "Winter Nelis, Beurre Bosc, Louise 

 Bonne. 



No. 2. — Louise Bonne, Lawrence, Bartlett, Beurre d' Anjou, Golden 

 B. of Bilboa. 



No. 3. — Buffura, Louise Bonne, Sheldon, Flemish Beauty, Duchesse. 



1873. 

 No. 1. — Bartlett, Louise Bonne, Duchesse, Lawrence, Winter Nclis. 

 No. 2. — Duchesse, Beurre Clairgeau, Beurre d' Anjou, Puradis, Flem- 

 ish Beauty. 

 No. 3. — Louise Bonne, Howell, Duchesse, Sheldon, Jaminette. 



