Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-09-30

society repaid its henetactors, how nohly has it
kept pace with the growth of this fouriShing
city. When blocks. houses and streets have taken
possession of some of our best gardens and nurse
ries, Immediately the horticuturSt is found
busily at work in preparing new grounds so
that our annual exhibitions have not dimin-
ishcd, but increased to such an extent that this
hall, which when it was built was thought large
enough for all time, has proved insufficient for
our exhibitions, and we have for this year and
the last occupied Mechanics hall with great sue
cess, one of the largest in this commonwealth.
If we look back to the time when we were in
Waldo hall, we shall find that we had not fruit
enough to ill the tables even in that small ball
md the duties were performed by two commit.
tees. In those days we had recourse to works
OF art, for the purpose of creating an interest in
our exhibitions. Pictures and StatuaTy from
| the houses of members were sent to decorate
| the hall. In the year 1910 we had a report on
| paintings from the accomplished chairman of
the committee, Samuel +. Haven, Esq, the first
secretary of this society.
In looking through the records and transac-
lions of this society we find it foremost also in
all progress, aud even as early as 1S49 it con-
coded the rights of woman, that she had talent
both to act and advise independently. The
committee on flowers that year contained the
names of Mrs. NJ. d Phillips, Mrs. p. S. Can
field and Mrs. g. W. Richardson.
In 1851, this society held its first meeting in
this hall, aud did not offer any premiums.
Such was the condition of its finances that an
honorable mention was all the contributors re-
ceiVed. This year our exhibition has been in
Mechanics hall, and our premiums $1,000
We must not stop here; it is not wisdom to
sit down and do nothing but talk over our
success, and count up our wealth. We
must 20 on, and with our annual income, which
IS considerable, offer larger premiums to cult
yators and producers, and after we have done
this, save enough from our yearly rentals to
a Oh oil IN,
litter days, spacious and magnificent hall
think We can look forward to this achievement
with much less doubt and anxiety than we did
At the beginning to accomplish what we have at
The present day. Keep what you have, and
make it earn for You what you want.
In conclusion, let me say, as | do not wish to
nhict upon you long address in this presence,
that this society is in every aspect in Il most
tiOurishing condition.
The tables having been relieved in measure
Of their abundance, Col. Richardson asked the
attention of the audience to the following letter
from an honored member of the society, cx-
Gov bullock:
GOV. BULLOCK's LETTER.
ELM STREET, Sept. %, 1911
Ny Dear Sir much regret that | cannot be
in town at the time Of the horticultural banquet
to which you kindly invite me, ard that there
fore shall lose the high enOvments of that oc-
tdolohs Nbll-ldluldiC NbH anu all tue ultulDtIH
that at the end of period about equal to that
which is usually assigned to Il whole generation
of men, our society can survey such field of
bene6cence and beauty, grown up under the cul-
ture Of its hand and that it can look hopefully
forward to yet richer fruit of its abors in the
future years.
| especially wish might be with you at the
feast, to express there how profoundly in my
Judgment the whole country is under obiga-
lions to tho distinguished gentleman who has
consented to honor our tables by his presence
Of course | allude TO the Hon. Marshall =.
Wilder For him, and for his remarkable labors
IN this field of culture, | may safely beSpeak
your cordial plaudits. Four years ago it was
my opportunity to express this sense of a COM
mon gratitude in the presence of thousand la
dies and gentlemen in the county o. Suffolk,
over whom he presided, and who manifested
their enthusiastic accord with the sentiment. |
would say now, as then, that Mr.. Wilder has APP
piled the results OF well-earned commercial for
tune to the development of the capacities of the
earth aud the sky, so wisely and so literally
that in every household AID at every tireSidC in
America, where the golden fruit OF summer and
autumn gladdenS the sideboard or hGarthStone,
his name bis generosity, and his services are
known and hunOred.
With great respect and esteem ! remain your
Jbedient servant ALEX. fl. BULLOCK.
The Hon. g. W. Richardson, President, &C.
Hon. Marshall Z. Wilder having been called
up by complimentary speech by Col. Richard
son, was received with applause as he rose to
speak, and listened to with interest through the
course of his remarks, which were very brief
He began by saying that the Worcester county
horticultural society might justly be called
compecr of the Massachusetts horticultural So
cety, and said also that he considered it second
to the state society. He spoke OF the wonderful
improvements in agriculture aud horticulture
within the last hundred years, and attributed it
mainly to the efforts of agricultural aud horti-
cultural societies. He dated the reform from
1885, in which year the first agricultural society
was formed in the country, in Pennsylvania,
which was followed in 1892 by the formation of
a similar society in Massachusetts. In 1897 the
interests of horticulture were affiliated with
those of horticulture in Pennsylvania; in Mas
sachusetts, horticultural society was formed
in 1919, in New Haven in 1882, and here in the
city of Worcester, in 1910, the society whose in
dependence the company was then celebrating,
was formed. Since then the interest has con-
tinued to increase, aud also the varie ties of var
GUS kinds of fruit. From two kinds of grapes
then we now have hundred or more varieties
which have almost been lost sight Of we
have 800 or 1000 varieties in the country. But
these progressive achievements had not been
confined to horticulture alone he said; agricul-
ture had gone forward still more wonderfully,
from the old wooden pillow, with which our grand.
fathers cndeavored to pulverize the soil, to the
wonderful steam pillow, which moves like
thug of life over the broad Iacres of the west.
He spoke of the advantages of educating the
tastes, reioiced at being present. and closed by
saying that he had passed the summit of the
hill of life and was descending on the other
side; that if he had done ought to promote the
comfort and enjoyment of mankind, it was com
fort enough to sustain him in his declining
years.
DIR. George b. Lorng was introduced by the
president as the foremost advocate and cham
pon of agriculture. On rising, the doctor said
that in such an Introductory sentiment be recog-
nized the warm-hearted generosity and kind
ness of the president, who knew well that his re-
turn to Worcester at this time was accompanied
with peculiar embarrassment-it was rough
place which the president had kindly endeavor.
ed to smooth; he had been talking agriculture
from Barre to Bridgcwater, and he readily saw
that his friend thought it would be generous
thing to put him on his old familiar beat; but
he said he did not propose to accept the tempta-
ton. He acknowledged that agriculture was at
the foundation, but regarded as holding the
masculine position, and proposed to take the
handmaideu horticulture for his theme, and
with her soothe his feelings as the president had
failed to do. The Lord put Adam, our
first parent into garden, he said
He did not place him on a
farm he would have got no consola-
ton on farm; and, in fact, he never knew as
any of his descendants had; they may have pro-
flied on the farm. but it was not until brought
into the garden that they were truly refreshed
and made happy. We are all educated to the
business of life by hard cndeavor; but the
poetic side of our existence must not be over
looked, that aesthetic culture so closely allied to
our best nature helps us by the poetry of gar
dens TO be lifted out of the hard and practical
service of life. The cultivation of our tastes he
said, sets the current of our lives more than any
thing else, and an acre of land converted into a