22 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1^83. 



attainment. The Centennial Diplomas that adorn our walls 

 attest but partially the renown which attached to yonr standing 

 as a Society, A. D. 18Y6. All of those Diplomas should find 

 their congenial and proper home within this hall. A Century 

 hence, — they will supply a point of departure ; a method of esti- 

 mating the progress towards perfection of that Pomological Evo- 

 lution which started, as its germ, from the Bosc and Cornice of 

 the present day. Let this Society, also, award its Certificates^ 

 or Diplomas ; yet onl}' as they may be earned, and with a caution 

 that shall be extreme in its parsimony ! 



A Florist, of wide repute; whose presence' at our Exhibitions 

 is in inverse ratio to the warmth of his welcome ; who has often 

 placed upon our tables collections of those superb Roses" for 

 which he is so deservedly famous ; and to whom, still more fre- 

 quently, we have been indebted for excellent and timely cultural 

 counsel ; asks your Secretary why our limit of competition is 

 restricted to the County of Worcester ? Why the Florists, and 

 Pomologists of the State, are not invited to compete, as freely as 

 they are at Boston, by the Massacluisetts Society ! He did not 

 imagine that there would be many to avail themselves of such a 

 privilege : " but," added he, " if a crowd, your Society need not 

 fear ! " Years ago, — we imposed no such restriction of resi- 

 dence ; and it is my individual recollection that no disastrous re- 

 sults followed. On the contrary, it was our occasional felicity to 

 be favored with a display, which, from its intrinsic beauty and 

 the instruction it afforded, richly merited the award that it ob- 

 tained as it were by unanimous acclaim. What have we gained 

 by our infinitesimal Chinese wall ? How much better now might 

 we challenge, or endure, competition, when our members go down 

 upon deliberate forays and return laden with the spoil of the 

 Egyptians ! Possibly, it is not a matter of essential moment ; 

 but, as an evidence of magnanimity, it could not hurt the collec- 

 tive Society ; while, to individuals, wholesome opportunities of 

 observation and comparison, otherwise unavailable, might now 

 and then be presented. Other corporate bodies throw their doors 

 wide open. The managers of the Musical Festival scour the wide 

 world for fresh and acceptable talent. The young and flourish- 

 ing Rifle Club hold a Tournament; bright precursor of an inter- 



