1883.] TRANSACTIONS. 17 



associated themselves, with the declared " purpose of advancing 

 the science and encouraging and improving the Practice of 

 Horticulture." 



Through Autumnal Exhibitions ; and elaborate Reports by- 

 expert Committees; either of them maintained, or perfected, at 

 untold cost of time and devoted labor ; those men and their suc- 

 cessors (for, alas ! few of the patriarchs survive), confirmed and 

 permanently established this Worcester County Horticultural 

 SociKTV. And the question which is now suggested, by events 

 occurring around us, is — have we been true to the trust trans- 

 mitted to us ? which we voluntarily assumed ! We hold Exhi- 

 bitions, it is true, as in the infancy of the corporation ; and there 

 is an unfailing and ample display of exquisite Flowers and Fruits, 

 each in their season. We oflPer pecuniary encouragement for the 

 introduction of new varieties of merit : and our tables supply 

 satisfactory evidence that the lure was not ineffective in its temp- 

 tation. Once, at least, we instituted a course of Botanical Lec- 

 tures, by an acknowledged Master of the Science : and contrived 

 to keep our Hall about one-third full, by a profuse distribution 

 of tickets, gratis^ among those who would not otherwise attend. 

 Perhaps we were too easily discouraged. But the blood of the 

 martyrs offers slight promise of grateful nutrition ; and few care 

 to supply it, in their own persons, as an original package. 



Nevertheless, others have commenced where we left off*. The 

 school of the prophets is re-opened ; and the Botanical Lecture is 

 seconded and supplemented by the Botanical Class. Another 

 Society does this; — taking up our appropriate task; — making it 

 a labor of love; — and persevering where we wearied and fell 

 faint by the way-side. Without anj'- assured endowment ; with- 

 out any permanent fund, wherefrom to draw at will ; with no 

 Scientitic Library for reference, belonging to it; it has gone on, 

 — modestly, — enthusiastically, — effectively; — until, at last, it 

 offers, complete and ready for publication a full, descriptive, 

 Flora of Worcester County. Alas ! that it should be my ill 

 fortune to announce such a work begun and consummated, under 

 other auspices than our own ! For ourselves have been the pre- 

 miums — the read}'- cash ! For those other assiduous students 



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