1873.] FUTURE OF R. H. SOCIETY. 537 



The great secret of Lindley's success may be attributed to bis vigorous 

 and decisive mode of action, and tbis no committee ever dared to 

 stifle. He beld tbe power in bis own bands, and all otbers did bis 

 bidding witbout a single complaint, since none doubted bis ability to 

 rule. If tbe garden at Soutb Kensington is banded over to tbe Com- 

 missioners, it is probable tbat some satisfactory arrangement could be 

 made at tbe same time witb regard to tbe exbibitions, wbile all tbe 

 otber work of tbe Society can very well be carried on at Cbiswick 

 under tbe present able management tbere. It must be borne in mind 

 tbat wbile tbe Soutb Kensington Garden is beld by tbe Society, a 

 yearly rental expenditure of 4000 guineas is incurred — tbat is to say, 

 a debenture debt of .£2000 per annum is due, and a rental of £2400 

 ougbt to be paid in addition, altbougb tbe payment of tbe last sum is 

 conditional on tbe Society's annual profits being large enougb to meet 

 tbe claim. 



Tbe object of tbe Society, according to tbe original cbarter, is, to 

 furtber and advance Horticulture ; and tbis it bas done in its day, but 

 latterly its power to work witb good effect bas been considerably 

 weakened by tbe expenses of tbe Kensingtonian playground and bad 

 management combined. It must be borne in mind tbat tbe land at 

 Soutb Kensington is valued at from £250,000 to £300,000, and baving 

 been purchased by tbe surplus funds from tbe Exhibition of 1851, it 

 naturally belongs to tbe public for tbe public good. Looking at it in 

 this light, it certainly does not seem right for tbe Society to retain so 

 much valuable property, wbile they employ it mainly as a fashionable 

 square or promenade. Certainly tbere are the periodical meetings and 

 exbibitions ; but tbere is every reason to believe tbat these could be 

 beld with equal benefit and convenience (under certain conditions) even 

 after the property lapses into tbe bands of tbe Commissioners; while 

 the uses to which tbe latter body might apply it would be more bene- 

 ficial to the general public than those now adopted by the Society. 

 The gradual decline of the Society is much to be deplored by all de- 

 voted to horticultural and kindred pursuits, and is mainly attributable 

 to the lethargy of successive councils, and the absence of a man of 

 sufficient calibre who would have kept up tbe status and dignity of the 

 Society as well as of horticulture. The late assistant-secretary probably 

 did as much as any other man, who was not practically a horticul- 

 turist, could have done under the circumstances ; but if the Royal 

 Horticultural Society is to prosper, a man must be at its head in whose 

 ability to govern, horticulturists as a body have full confidence. We 

 need scarcely add tbat even the little confidence felt in tbe late council 

 is not possessed by tbe present one, so tbat tbe Society is at present 

 practically without the means of coming to an arrangement with the 



