1869.] REPORT ON PLANTS, FLOWERS, ETC. 13 



For the second best (nameless), Adams Foster, of Holden $2 00 



Dr. B. F. Hejwood, of Worcester, exhibited some fine seedling peaches. 

 Anthony Chase, of Worcester, for the best twelve Orange Quinces, is 



entitled to the premium of 4 00 



The specimens of Quinces other than the Orange were not deemed worthy of 

 encouragement. This fruit is fading away in our neighborhood, perhaps, mainly 

 on account of the borer. This evil can be guarded against without serious 

 expense or labor ; and it is a pity that this ancient fruit, desirable for so many 

 reasons, should lose caste among us. 



Two Minorca Melons from George Crompton, of Worcester, by his gardener, 

 Wm. T. Harris, were exhibited, and one of them was tested by more than this 

 committee, and, perhaps, by all the Society except the ladies. And wliether 

 the subject belongs to this committee, we don't know, and don't mean to be 

 committed either on the matter of conflict of jurisdiction, or on the distinctive 

 merits of the melon, until we have more experience; though we may safely say 

 that the specimen we tested was respBctably good. 



We hope our friends will excuse us for not stating all the names of con- 

 tributors, and of the varieties of fruits, for a report thus made might weary the 

 patience of the auditors. 



EDWIN CONANT, Chairman. 



REPOUT ON PLANTS, FLOWERS, &c. 



George E. Fraxcis, Chairman; John Milton Earle, Clarendon Harris, 

 Charles Richardson, David S. Messinger, Henry Woodward, and Henry 

 A. Marsh, of Worcester, 



The Committee on Plants, Flowers, &c., in presenting their report, congratu- 

 late the Society upon the unusual merit of the contributions to the Floral De- 

 partment of the present Exhibition. The multitude of exotic plants is exceed- 

 ingly creditable to the generous zeal of the larger contributors, but is attended 

 ■with some disadvantages. The space which the general Committee can allow 

 to collections of plants, though considerable, is far from enough to display all, 

 or nearly all, that have been sent in this year. The Committee think that a 

 change in the schedule of premiums for next year would prove a,dvantageous to 

 the public, the exhibitors, and the Committee. Let the collections of green- 

 liouse plants be limited, say to twenty specimens each, then the public will see 

 the choioest plants to the best advantage, each exhibitor will have ample space 

 for his twenty plants, ^nd the Committee would be relieved of much useless 

 labor. 



There is a very high average of merit in the many floral designs, baskets, and 

 bouquets which beautify our tables, and the Committee have had great diffi- 



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