1873.] REPORT OF SECRETARY AND LIBRARIAN. 69 



of choice and thrifty Vegetables. In this latter Department, his eft'orts 

 to develop which to its proper proportions have been so liberally seconded 

 by the Trustees, your Secretary would again invite your attention to the 

 conspicuous absence of the City of Worcester as a competitor. Within 

 the two years last past, this Society has paid into the Treasury of that 

 City, for various Taxes and " Betterments,'" (!) a sum amounting to well 

 nigh Two Thousand Dollars. How appropriate, then, the diversion of 

 the produce of its Farm to swell the display of a rival association, Avhich 

 not only claims exemption from its just share of the public burdens, but 

 also blocks the progress of civic improvement. Although this reproach 

 should perhaps be mitigated, when it is considered how much is done by 

 prominent members and Trustees of our Society to foster a competing 

 Exhibition. Without the aid of professed Horticulturists, through which 

 alone the tables of the Agricultural Society are kept poorly supplied, 

 there would speedily be a cessation of this ill-advised attempt at rivalry 

 in our own especial province. But, whether a due perception of their 

 obligations as Members of this Society shall become fainter, or vividly 

 revive, among our associates; whether a proper spirit of comity shall, or 

 not, actuate the councils and govern the policy of other organizations ; it 

 nevertheless remains for us, as it lies palpably in our power, to crush out 

 rivalry by rendering its results as pitiful as the spirit by which it is in- 

 spired. Earnest and disinterested labor to " advance the Science and en- 

 courage and improve the Practice of Horticulture," will place us beyond 

 even a panic fear of comi etition. As the power to make of our Society 

 what Ave will lies in our own hands, so there will be but ourselves to 

 blame if propitious opportunities are neirlected. Your Secretary, at all 

 events, will spare no effort to stimulate your zeal and accomplish your 

 resolves. 



In pursuance of their policy, announced to you by the Committee of 

 Arrangements through tlie Eeport of the Secretary for 1872, the number 

 of new, patented Tables has been largely increased. The purchase of 

 two hundred linear feet annually, for two or three years longer, will 

 renew our stock, now greatly dilapidated, to the exceeding convenience 

 of the Committee and without embarassment to the Treasury. 



The development of the Floral Department of our Exhibition has 

 been such that it ai)peared at first as though another and additional sup- 

 ply of Flower Stands would be indispensable. But it is believed that a 

 readier and better way of relief may be found in a reduction of the ex- 

 treme allowance of stands, permitted to a contributor of Cut Flowers, to 

 two (2), at most. Such limitation will afford ample margin for quantity, 

 — perhaps more than enough for excellence. 



