14 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL BOCIETT. [1882. 



the faintest trace of a similar universal and complete havoc. At 

 this time of writing, a month later in the current year, many 

 gardens are gay with brilliant foliage ; Geraniums and Zinnias 

 vieing with each other which shall present the brightest display, 

 while huge clumps of the Hydrangea paniculata outshine them 

 both. In proportion to our discouragement, a twelvemonth 

 since, has been our subsequent good cheer. Regretting heartily 

 all the individual losses caused by that unparalleled fatality, let 

 us profit by its warning ; — so to conduct our operations, keeping 

 them well in hand, as to expose ourselves to the minimum of 

 misfortune, should the worst to which we are liable actually 

 befall us. With such and so much prevision, we should not have 

 but ourselves to blame ; the humblest pie that can be eaten ! 



The system of Weekly Exhibitions, whether of Flower or 

 Fruit, appears to be universally accepted in our Society ; and 

 commends itself, the more it is understood, to thoughtful Horti- 

 culturists everywhere. A week is not too long to anticipate or 

 predict maturity ; should acceleration or delay of some especial 

 exhibit become necessary. A fierce storm or an untimely frost 

 may occur on a Friday — dies infausta! and seven days there- 

 after you will have met and compared notes upon the cause and 

 extent of the common calamity. Whatsoever is good you may 

 know in season : if a week must elapse before a conviction of 

 evil is brought home to you, delay cannot be deemed an unmiti- 

 gated curse. At those Weekly Exhibitions, you behold flowers 

 and fruits in their freshness and prime. Some day, the "science 

 and practice" of Horticulture will demand tliat selected varieties 

 of flowers and fruit shall be exhibited for as many weeks in 

 succession as possible, to determine when each fruit matures ; 

 how long it continues unimpaired ; and what may be its entire 

 duration, without fading or decay. And a fortunate solution of 

 that probleui would be worth more to Horticulture, and humanity 

 (if the latter has any claim to consideration), than awards of a 

 hundred dollars to this or that monotonous sequence of stands of 

 Cut Flowers; wherein beauty, form, and fragrance, are alike 

 confused and lost. 



Annual Exhibitions^ so-called ; whereby is intended the aggre- 



