26 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1869'. 



the committee as to the precise sphere of their duty. In that report he advanced 

 reasons that were alleged in favor of a union or consolidation of the two 

 societies. He did not announce them as the convictions of his own mature 

 judgment, although had he done so the offence might have been condoned for 

 something short of blasphemy. But such being assumed to be the case what- 

 ever action was had by the committee became predicated upon that basis. No 

 consideration was devoted to the suggestion of holding an exhibition of 

 Horticulture under the auspices of this society, although upon the grounds 

 of the Agricultural Society- The latter organization having resumed its dis- 

 play of flowers and fruits, your Secretary may be pardoned for claiming that 

 his prevision and efforts at least were not wanting to anticipate and prevent 

 such practical if not intentional antagonism. The pressure of official duties 

 precluded any personal inspection of that display. If it was inferior, as he has 

 been told, it is to be regretted that the farmers of the county could not have had 

 their eyes opened to the more pronounced advance of horticulture as manifested 

 upon our tables. But from the names of some of the contributors to that display , 

 heretofore competitors at our own, it is safe to assume that the articles exhibited 

 could not have been utterly unworthy of notice. The possibility of a con- 

 tinuance of this rivalry, or more properly antagonism, must be an element 

 in our future calculations. It only remains to add that no especial solicitude 

 was evinced by the Agricultural Society to participate in the proposed delibera- 

 tions. At the time designated for the interview of the two committees, no one 

 was present of those whom we had appointed to meet. At an adjournment, a 

 single gentleman, Mr. Fayerweather, of Westborough, appeared for himself and 

 associates. It does not need the testimony of your Secretary to convince the 

 constituents of that gentleman that all which argument and energy could accom- 

 plish was as thoroughly achieved as though he had been assisted or impeded 

 by a dozen colleagues. 



Previous to the last annual autumnal exhibition it was decided by the Com- 

 mittee on Exhibitions that the entry of vegetables should be restricted within a 

 period to be publicly announced. Extreme pains were taken to ensure such 

 publicity. And although there were some exceptions to the terms of the several 

 advertisements and notices, it is not believed that any injustice was done, or 

 that any actual misapprehension existed. The practical operation of the rule 

 was an unprecedented success. The number of entries was almost treble that 

 of any former year. But the great advantage resulted from the fact that time 

 was thus afforded to complete the records of the exhibition, with due regard to 

 a proper classification. To accomplish this alone required upwards of seventeen 

 hundred details upon the books, and of course the filling out of as many cards 

 for contributors. The Secretary was thus enabled to devote some time and 

 attention in the hall itself, which was the more important because of the tempo- 

 rary disability of the efficient chairman of the Committee ou Exhibitions during 

 the openiug days. 



