1883.] TRANSACTIONS. 21 



was founded with an honest purpose ; has never sought immunity 

 from wliat should be a common burden, through false pretences ; 

 and so now stands upriglit' l)efore this community, bearing the 

 unequal load imposed upon it ; owing no man anything tiiat it 

 cannot pay upon demand ! Despite an unpropitious season, you 

 have stimulated the growth of Sweet Corn, the Tomato, the 

 Squash; and above all Celery ; — to a development whereof the 

 public reap a common benefit. I do not mention Cauliflowers: 

 reserving them as the particular spoil of my own bow and 

 quiver; recalling how often, in days of yore, the lonely hours of 

 an Annual Autumnal Exhibition were occupied in impressing 

 upon my assistant, that the market would absorb whatsoever 

 Mountain Street might be made to yield ; and feeling especial 

 self-complacency over the manifest fact that neither the sermon, 

 nor its application to the immediate audience, were wasted. 



A separate Vegetable Department will be indispensable, before 

 long; if for no other reason, to relieve the judge of Fruits from 

 what will have become an onerous, and somewhat incongruous, 

 duty. At present, — it appears to your Secretary better to let 

 well alone : awaiting development, expecting change, and hold- 

 ing ourselves in readiness to accept whatever is new that may 

 approve itself as an advancement upon the old. 



In the Spring-time of this Society, when everything was fair 

 with promise ; when there was no fund from which to pay pre- 

 miums, and therefore (?) few cared for tliem ; a Committee was 

 appointed, to devise a Diploma of appropriate design and care- 

 ful execution. There is no record tliat anything was accom- 

 plished. But, does not the need exist? The First-Class Certifi- 

 cates, so-called ; awarded by the Royal Horticultural Society of 

 England ; are prized beyond measure by their fortunate re- 

 cipients. Should not this Society extend some recognition of 

 especial merit, in origination ; propagation, if you choose ; or 

 even rare skill and success of cultivation ? The money premium 

 does not represent an equally solid value to all. A meritorious 

 distinction; rigidly guarded, and, bestowed solely upon and for 

 desert; would be an object of emulation; and, when secured, be- 

 come prized and valuable, in proportion to the difliculty of its 



