132 



information in regard to the cultivation of various kinds 

 of flowers, wild as well as cultivated. 



With this, closed a very successful season of Institutes, 

 each attended by from 100 to 400 persons, and of such 

 value that to those who attended they were days well 

 spent. 



Those who attended them were in most cases provided 

 near at hand with dinners together, by ladies on charita- 

 ble thoughts intent, adding much to the sociability of the 

 occasions, and relieving our minds of where to look for 

 something to eat. To them and the Farmers' Clubs, or 

 other interested persons, the Society is indebted for the 

 conveniences provided for holding them in the various 

 places where they have been held. 



David W. Low, Secretary. 



* In this connection I cannot resist republishing the fact that ladies 

 were first put upon committees in this Society in 1856, and one of the 

 ladies of the " Flower" Committee of that year made the fact known 

 in their report with these lines: 



At the first Cattle Show of which we read, 



Man, sole Committee, over all presided, 

 Till the Great Husbandman, who saw the need 



Of Woman's gentler couusel, thus decided: — 

 " It is not good for man to be alone ; " 

 And straight a helpmeet formed to share his throne. 



In this display, where Nature fresh and fair 

 To Eden's bowers tempts back the roving will, 



The old precedent is brought to bear, 

 And Eve's quick tact is blent with Adam's skill, 



To trace the hand of God in fruits and flowers, 



And scan the products of man's feebler powers. 



If, in the judgment thus conjointly rendered, 



Error, like evil, craftily creeps in, 

 That same old plea which father Adam tendered, 



Can now be urged to palliate the sin; 

 And every blunder written, thought, or said, 



Be visited on luckless women's head. 



