240 THE FLORIST. 



far, is unexceptionable, and if carried out agreeably with the plans 

 laid down, will no doubt make a highly attractive place of resort, well 

 adapted for holding horticultural exhibitions, concerts, &c, as well as 

 exhibiting what can be effected in the way of town gardening, a point 

 we have long advocated as being much wanted in Hyde and St. James's 

 Parks, which, notwithstanding all that irir Joseph Raxton said to the 

 contrary the other day in the House of Commons we consider would be 

 greatly improved by mors floral embellishment. 



The fum required to carry these works to completion is estimated 

 at £100,000, of which the Royal Commissioners are willing to expend 

 £50,000 on the arcades and ground -work which are to surround the 

 gardens, by the Horticultural Society undertaking to»expend an equal 

 sum in finishing the terraces and erecting a winter garden and colonnade 

 on the north side of the ground ; the Commissioners stipulating that all 

 expenses contingent on the maintenance of the gardens at Kensington 

 Gore, and also for keeping up the experimental garden at Chiswick, shall 

 be a first charge on the profits ; next, that the interest of the £50,00, 

 to be borrowed by the Horticultural Society shall be paid ; and lastly 

 the debenture interest on the £50,000 to be expended by the Royal 

 Commissioners. After providing for these sums, should there be any 

 surplus remaining, it is to be divided between the Royal Commissioners 

 and the Horticultural Society. So far the terms are favourable, as, 

 according to a statement submitted to the meeting of the Horticultural 

 Society convened to discuss these proposals, a profit is shown on the 

 estimates of receipts and expenditure of £8075, from which deducting 

 rent and interest on debentures, say £5000, will leave a handsome 

 sum to be divided, supposing the foregoing calculations prove correct, 

 or nearly so. It is presumed, however, that the profits will far exceed 

 the amount stated. 



We must beg our readers to bear in mind that a portion only of 

 Chiswick is to be retained for the purpose of carrying out experimental 

 gardening ; and, we presume, also for acting as a nursery for furnishing 

 the houses and gardens at Kensington Gore with plants for decoration. 



The Society, then, is in this position. It has the offer of 20 acres 

 of ground most advantageously situated for show grounds, on 

 which an expenditure of £50,000 has to be incurred to form an orna- 

 mental town garden, the expenses for keeping up which, we may take 

 it for granted, will be secured to it, as also the interest of the money 

 it will have to borrow to carry out its agreement ; and it is 

 also secured the maintenance of keeping up its experimental garden 

 at Chiswick. At least we think all this may fairly be inferred, from 

 the popularity the gardens at Kensington will doubtless attain. And 

 further, it has the chance, through a right to a mo'ety of any surplus 

 profits which may accrue after paying interest on their loans and 

 £2000 for rent to the Royal Commissioners, of benefiting horticulture 

 generally, and of promoting the more legitimate objects for which, as a 

 Society for the encouragement of horticulture, it obtained its charter 

 of incorporation, and which, we beg to impress on the Council, should 

 be still the great object and aim of the Society to pursue. 



The means proposed by the Society for raising the necessary capital 



