145 



A WORD FOR THE PRESENT, AND SUGGESTIONS FOR 

 THE FUTURE. 



At a time wlien so many foreigners are drawn to our shores 

 b}"^ the Great Exhibition of the world's industry, we have natu- 

 rally felt anxious that our horticultural displays should be of 

 no commonplace character ; and it has gratified us to learn 

 that, much as was expected by our visitors, their general feel- 

 ing has been one of unqualified admiration, — the displays at 

 both Chiswick and Regent's Park having exceeded their most 

 sanguine expectations. The weather was happily much finer 

 than in May, and the number of visitors \vas consequently 

 very large at both places, affording an excellent opportunity 

 of seeing a gathering of our countrymen and women under 

 the most favourable circumstances ; which in our uncertain 

 climate is something to tell of. 



May we be allowed to indulge a hope that it will not be 

 long before challenges are made and accepted for holding hor- 

 ticultural fetes on both sides of the Channel, say at Dover and 

 Calais, Folkstone or Boulogne, or, better still, at Paris and 

 London. To ourselves it would afford sincere gratification to 

 take part in so generous a rivalry. At this moment, when the 

 two greatest nations of Europe seem starting on a race of 

 mutual goodwill and friendship, instead of continuing the 

 wicked, foolish, and expensive animosities which once reigned 

 so universally between them, why should we not, amongst 

 other means of cementing our friendly intercourse, seriously 

 contemplate a tournament of this kind, to rival that of the 

 Field of the Cloth of Gold ? Is it too much to suppose that, 

 if such meetings were arranged upon the most liberal scale as 

 regards exhibitors, they would prove attractive even to the 

 Royalty of our isle, or to the President of the French Re- 

 public ? 



In these days of speedy locomotion, when plants from 

 Exeter are brought to our metropolitan exhibitions with 

 more ease and safety, and in better condition, than from a 

 place fifteen miles distant by turnpike-road, what is to hinder 

 our exhibiting on the other side of the w^ater ? Lot it be 

 tried. He will deserve well of both countries that shall come 

 forward with the best-devised plan for carrying out our sug- 

 gestion. Liberal subscriptions would soon set the thing going. 

 Imagine such an exhibition in Paris as should display to our 

 neighbours, among other proofs of our horticultural skill, that 

 wonderful collection of Pitcher-plants produced by Messrs. 

 Veitcli. But we will not enlarge upon the subject; but turn 

 for a moment to our own National Floricultural Society, and 



NEW SERIES. VOL. I. NO. VII. O 



