1885.] TRANSACTIONS. 7 



Later, — under date of March 5, the criticism is; — " Nos. 26 and 

 27: Azalea Indica — in bloom : — No entries." Cold and raw 

 day, the call proving wholly premature. Even in Boston, where 

 it is usually two weeks earlier than in Worcester, — Azalea Indica 

 is not invited until the 19th. Of Apples, under the head of 

 " No. 28, Baldwin," — there was a large display, but in quality the 

 specimens were plainly inferior to what were shown in Autumn. 

 Of Yellow Belleflower, there were but two plates, — of Cogswell, 

 one. The display of R. I. Greenings was much better in the 

 preceding Autumn. Of Fears, — it is remarked ; — " Nothing 

 shown but Duchesse de Bourdeaux, which is fit only for cooking, 

 and for that purpose is not superior, if equal, to other varieties 

 heretofore known." And such is the record, continuously. 

 Throughout March there was an extreme and almost unbroken 

 cold spell. On the 18th, the mercury, in exposed places, indi- 

 cated — Q° at sunrise! On the 19th, when we have usually 

 invited Azalea Indica but, in this instance, preferred the Arum 

 (Richardia) it was — " milder in the morning, but cooling towards 

 night, and only 10°+ on A. M. of 20th." 



Now what does all this prove ? Object lessons were intended ; 

 and, in most instances, the pupils were present. But, if exam- 

 ples were lacking, how could the lessons be conveyed ? There is 

 no doubt, if we elect to occupy that province, that we can force 

 the season. Our florists have shown in Boston, triumphantly, 

 that which, with greater difficulty, established its supremacy in 

 Worcester. Yet this is not a florist's Society. At the risk of 

 misapprehension, your Secretary cannot too often, nor too 

 emphatically, declare that were its prizes to become the exclu- 

 sive spoil of professional efi"ort, — it were better that this Society 

 had never existed. Florists can take care of themselves : it is 

 their business, from which their livelihood is derived. But Hor- 

 ticulture is broader than the mere production of flowers, for sale, 

 almost in the proportion that the thousands of door-yards and 

 gardens bear to the tens of commercial green-houses. The 

 Florist would sell the Astilbe Japonica when flowers are craved 

 in winter. What cares he if its nature is to bloom luxuriantly in 

 the Bunny days of June ? He coerces Deutzia Gracilis into 

 exhaustive floriage, — indifierent or heedless if every condition of 



