FEBRUARY. 25 



HORTICULTURAL SOCIETIES. 



It may be taken as a rule, that wherever societies of this kind 

 flourish, there the best gardening, in all its branches, will be 

 found. When from mismanagement, or want of efficient sup- 

 port, they languish or decay, there the growing of fine fruits, 

 flowers, and vegetables, is proportionately neglected. These 

 things are really worth the attention of the wealthy and in- 

 fluential classes, who ought to take the lead in promoting and 

 liberally supporting these institutions in their respective neigh- 

 bourhoods. Experience has taught us that the one great diffi- 

 culty is the work of collecting the subscriptions. This too 

 often lies very heavily upon one or two individuals ; and where 

 the society embraces a wide district, it is found a serious task. 

 Members, instead of making it a point of honour to keep their 

 subscriptions duly paid, are often very negligent in this re- 

 spect. Therefore, we strongly recommend the employment 

 of a paid collector, who should also act as secretar}^ He 

 should be a person of some address and tact, and prepared 

 to advocate the advantages of the institution he represents. 

 We part with our money, even for taxes, with less repugnance 

 (more pleasure we dare not say) to a pleasant good-natured 

 collector of her Majesty's revenue, than to an ill-skinned surly 

 fellow, who seems to enjoy the reluctance with which we draw 

 forth the needful to satisfy his ever-recurring demands. Such 

 an officer as we recomm.end acts as a very fertiliser to the 

 subscription and prize-list, as no doubt many of our readers 

 can bear witness. 



" Owe no man aught but love," is a good text for horti- 

 cultural societies to adopt as their motto. We are great ad- 

 vocates for keeping the expenditure always within the income. 

 Nothing is more discouraging than to find balances in favour 

 of treasurers, instead of in favour of the societies ; there is no 

 pleasure in reading reports where these deficiencies figure, 

 whereas there is a natural pride in being connected with a 

 body possessed of funds to pay all claims on demand, and 

 to leave a good balance in hand afterwards. We know what 

 can be advanced on the other side of the question ; but socie- 

 ties, like individuals, should learn to be just before they are 

 generous ; and though at first their progress may be slow, the 

 result will be perfect success in the course of time. More ; 

 if a portion of the income, however small, was annually re- 

 served to form a capital, and was properly invested ; by -the 

 aid of donations of liberal individuals, a sum would soon ac- 

 cumulate sufficient to make a society thus managed partially 



NEW SERIES. VOL. I. NO. II. D 



