6 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1869. 



And, in this connection, it is proper to record that within a few days the 

 Society has been called on to part with one of its earliest and most valued 

 friends and officers. Frederick William Paine, who, for nearly thirty years, has 

 filled the office of Treasurer, having been first elected in 1841, and annually 

 re-elected since, deceased September 16th, at the ripe age of eighty-one. He 

 has been a most faithful and efficient officer, constant and accurate in the dis- 

 charge of all his duties, and guarding vigilantly the funds of the Society, ever 

 favoring restricted appropriations while the Society was in debt. 



The weekly exhibitions of Fruits and Flowers have been continued in the 

 ante-room of the Hall every Thursday afternoon during the year, open free of 

 charge to the public as well as to members of the Society. Individuals having 

 new varieties of fruits, flowers, or vegetables will find this a favorable op- 

 portunity for exhibiting them. Enquirers for the names of any fruits can 

 always obtain reliable information. 



A more general attendance at these meetings would be found beneficial to all 

 having an interest in the Society. 



The Library has been largely increased by valuable additions during the 

 year, to accommodate which the new book-cases, that ornament one of the ante- 

 rooms, have been required. Our Library is now one of the most valuable 

 horticultural libraries in the country. Books can be taken out every Thurs- 

 day afternoon, by any member of the Society. The detail of the additions to 

 the Library, and a full statement of the operations of the Society during the 

 year, will more properly come in the Annual Report of the Secretary and 

 Librarian. 



The subject of a union of this Society and the Worcester County Agricultural 

 Society has been suggested, and a committee was appointed at the last annual 

 meeting to confer with a committee of the Agricultural Society upon the mat- 

 ter. The general opinion of the members of the Horticultural Society as ex 

 pressed, and in which I fully concur, is against any union of the two societies. 

 There is no clashing in their sphere of operations between the two societies, 

 and I believe the community will reap greater advantages from each continuing 

 on its own chosen way. Our own Society is now established upon a permanent 

 and independent basis. Its real estate is increasing in value, and its income from 

 that source, without regard to its receipts from admissions to its exhibitions, 

 or admissions of new members, is ample to enable it to offer large and attract- 

 ive premiums, and for all other purposes. 



There is no apparent reason why the Society should rest contented with what 

 it has accomplished in the past. Though successful heretofore, the field for 

 improvement is still open to us, and to encourage every horticulturist in seeking 

 to improve in quality and quantity every product of their gardens and orchards, 

 is our duty. 



The opening of the great Pacific railways, while they may affijrd us earlier 

 in the season fruits from California, cannot be expected to afford a supply that 

 in quantity or price will seriously compete with our own products. The dc- 



