1873.] REPORT OP SECRETARY AND LIBRARIAN. 67 



ISTow it may be said that the Secretary, who was the successful com- 

 petitor in both those years, should be the last person to complain. ISTor 

 does he of the awards, which seemed just to the Committee; but simply 

 of the theory under which tliey are necessarily made. That the point 

 may be more precisely taken, similar lists are supplied of the unsuccessful 

 entries in Class Four (4) : 



1873. 



A. — Seckel, Sheldon, riemish Beauty, Eostiezer, Dix. 



B. — Bartlett, Flemish Beauty, Duchesse, Yicar, Chelmsford. 



C. — Duchesse, Bartlett, Flemish Beauty, Buffum, Louise Bonne. 



D. — Duchesse, Louise Bonne, Beurre d' Anjou, St. Michael, Beurre 

 Bosc. 



E. — Bartlett, Seckel, Flemish Beauty, Duchesse, Louise Bonne. 



F. — Bartlett, Duchesse, Beurre Diel, Louise Bonne, Yicar of Wink- 

 field. 



G. — Flemish Beauty, Duchesse, Beurre d' Anjou, Seckel, D. Boussoc. 

 H. — Glout Morceau, Winter Nelis, Beurre d' Anjou, Beurre Superfin, 



Beurre d' Arenberg. 



JS'ow if there were any recognized standard of quality by which to deter- 

 mine the pre-eminence of a particular variety, our present system of class- 

 iflcation might not be so objectionable. But, while one member of the Com- 

 mittee may find the Belle Lucrative grateful to his palate, another would 

 rank it as insipid and utterly without merit. To many, the chief, if not 

 only, recommendation of the Duchesse is its size. Take, however, the case 

 of two lots, of different or partially the same varieties, yet all of conceded 

 excellence, and what test shall be aijplied to decide between them? 

 What comparison can be instituted between the Lawrence and Winter 

 !N"elis, each unsurpassed of its kind! Who shall decide that the Beurre 

 d' Anjou is a better Pear than the Beurre Bosc, or vice versa? The truth 

 is, that the whole theory is radically vicious, and justice becomes impossi- 

 ble of administration under the consequent practice. 



At the last Autumnal Exhibition, the Society offered premiums for 

 Thirty-Nine (.39) different varieties of Pears, in separate entries; for sev- 

 eral species proposing first and second prizes. This would seem to com- 

 prise all the sorts that have approved themselves meritorious by actual 

 culture within the County. It may be advisable, however, upon the abo- 

 lition of classification as now existing, to offer Three (3) Premiums of Five 

 (5,) Three, (3,) and One, (1,) Dollars, severally, for those choicer varieties 

 of whose absolute pre-eminence not a doubt can exist. 



The suggestion is further advanced of the expediency of proposing 

 specific Premiums for 7iew species of Apples and Peaks and of discon- 

 tinuing "Class 6" in those genera. There are many kinds of Apples grown 

 at the West that might prove worthy and capable of acclimation here. 



