6 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1885. 



demanded, not alone in your own permanent interest, but by a 

 proper regard for the appearance which a Society like this 

 should always seek to present before the public. The work has 

 been completed and may safely challenge criticism, as it has 

 already compelled approval. All the necessary expenditures 

 have been defrayed from ordinary revenue ; although it has not 

 left any sum applicable to the reduction of our debt. That, 

 however, has been brought within such very moderate bounds, 

 that its complete extinction cannot be long delayed. Some indis- 

 pensable repairs to the passage-way, in the rear of our Hall, will 

 finish the work deemed absolutely essential by the Finance 

 Committee. 



Our Exhibitions, until last Spring, have usually commenced 

 with a display of Azalea Indica, — at about the period of the 

 Vernal Equinox. And, in three cases out of four, it has chanced 

 even then that the plants brought out were exposed to a tempera- 

 ture so severe as to be fatal, without greater safeguards than 

 most growers have time to apply. Last Spring, for the first 

 time, it was attempted to hold fortnightly Exhibitions, beginning 

 with the first Thursday of February, being the first day of the 

 month. Upon that date, the Hyacinth and Primula Sinensis 

 were called for. The record made at the time, bluntly says : 

 " Hyacinth, — no entry worthy of mention." Of Primula, — there 

 was no entry at all. Among Apples, — the Fameuse and 

 Tompkins Co. King, were invited, but, in the phrase of a 

 Worcester belle of old, asked to a Cattle-Show Ball, — "re-clined 

 the inve/itation." Two weeks later, — on the 19th of February, 

 your Schedule called for Cineraria and Cyclamen, — each in 

 bloom. On that day — at 11 o'clock, A. M., " the mercury indi- 

 cated but -|-16°." The contemporary minute is: " A fair dis- 

 play of Cineraria, but the cold too severe to justify exposure of 

 choice plants. Such was notably the case with the State Lunatic 

 Hospital. No Cyclamens to speak of : either they are^ not, — or 

 it is too early." Of Apples, — it was observed, — that there 

 was, — One (1) plate of No. 15 (Golden Russet of Mass"*), and 1 

 (one) plate of No. IT (Leicester Sweet), No. 18 (Northern 

 Spy), in profusion, but of quality far interior to its kind in 

 Autumn." " Pears were discreditable." 



