32 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1866. 



In compliance with a promise made to the worthy Chairman of the Committee 

 on Pears, your Secretary desires to invite your attention to the subject of race, 

 without reference to hybridization. The Chairman has experienced an access 

 of tender sensibility. His gentle soul has moved within him since the discovery 

 that '' any white male person may become a Member of the Society upon the 

 payment of three dollars." He has no wish to be a " come-outer " from our 

 midst ; his choice is rather to " cry aloud and spare not " where he is. He 

 has no insuperable aversion to the whites as a race, in their place. " Not that 

 he loves Caisar less but Rome more." He misses his cherished and fevorite 

 associations. While his bodily presence is with his pears, his heart wanders to 

 his absent peers. 



" For he can be happy with neither, 



When the other dear charmer's away. 



" With his fine eyes fixed on Africa," mindful of his official duty, he aims to 

 develop the neglected pomology of " Borraboola Gha." With this obnoxious 

 second article amended, he promises that the " Black Pear of Worcester " shall 

 become the pet of the pomologist everywhere, as it now is of the Chairman. 

 Having thus fulfilled his pledge, is it exacting too much in return, to ask of the 

 Chairman, when he resumes his official duties, a more elaborate and creditable 

 report? Or, at least, that he shall not shirk a task, imposed upon him because 

 of his presumed and conceded fitness in those very respects, wherein from indif- 

 ference or neglect he did most injustice to the Society and to his own reputation. 



No sound reason can be urged against an amendment of the second article 

 of the by-laws, as desired. Originally in consonance with the tone of legislation 

 and public sentiment throughout the commonwealth, it accords at this day with 

 neither. 



Contrary to gener: ■ expectation, less injury was experienced from the canker 

 worm than for the year previous. Whether this was due to the peculiar charac- 

 ter of the winter, in the absence of snow, subjecting the earth to alternate frost 

 and thaw, and in its rapid and extreme changes of temperature similarly afFect- 

 inw the eggs, cannot, of course, be determined. Yet it is certain that, during 

 the constant rains of the later spring, when they should have been committing 

 their worst ravages upon the foliage of the apple and cherry, they remained 

 comparatively torpid. That moisture is disagreeable to them is not an extrav- 

 ao-ant deduction, from the fact that many insects, proof against everything else, 

 succumb quickly to oils. All the patented protectors so far tried have been 

 found useless. Of those not patented, the ugliest and most worthless — a band 

 of tarred paper, secured by wire — is generally discarded. Absorbing the tar as 

 fast as it could be applied, it was impossible that it should be beneficial ; suf- 

 fered to remain long enough, the wires were sure to girdle the trees, and thus, 

 if in no other way, prevent our streets from being permanently disfigured. Tar, 

 to be useful, must be applied upon some substance that is non-absorbent. 



The last season was disagreebly distinguished by the advent of a new insect 

 enemy. The currant, always prolific, in spite of neglect, abuse, or downright 

 ill-treatment, is threatened with absolute annihilation. The leaves are devoui-ed 



