2 THE GARDENER. [Jan. 



esting to our general readers ; and every facility will be afforded for 

 useful and temperate discussion. 



Earnestly believing that " the study and culture of flowers and fruit, 

 plants and vegetables, exercises an important influence on the education 

 and wellbeing of the people — that it teaches, refines, and elevates in pro- 

 portion as the results of skilful practice and the power given to man 

 to ameliorate and develop new things in nature are successively 

 demonstrated — and that it largely promotes the material comforts of 

 mankind," — the Editors will endeavour, with sincere earnestness of 

 purpose, to make their conduct of the 'Gardener' an illustration of 

 this belief, and the work itself a worthy advocate of the cause it was 

 originated to serve. 



NOTES OF THE MONTH. 



The last month of the year — when leaden skies and dull short days 

 prevail — is invariably that particular season when things horticultural 

 are at their lowest ebb, in so far as they attain publicity. With the 

 exception of the one meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society on the 

 21st ult., that was probably the only meeting of the character held 

 throughout the kingdom. But there must be a state of repose as a 

 necessary adjunct to a time of activity, and there must also be a period 

 of preparation for the yet undeveloped work of the coming spring and 

 summer. 



It is not too much to say that considerable interest was felt as to 

 the decision of the Royal Horticultural Society in regard to its great 

 Summer Exhibition. Would it continue to follow the Royal Agricul- 

 tural Society, as it has done for the past three years, or would it boldly 

 stand alone, and on its own merits challenge provincial support 1 It 

 has decided, — and in July next it will pitch its tents by the side of those 

 of the Royal Agricultural Society at Oxford. It has done this despite 

 the appeals of many of the Society's best advisers, and with nearly 

 the whole of the horticultural press condemning such a course of proceed- 

 ing. Rumour has it that some members of the council are in favour 

 of the Society going alone to the country, probably in 1871. So 

 there is hope in the future; and some sanguine ones predict that in 

 1871 the two societies will part company, and, taking opposite direc- 

 tions, each discharge its own peculiar functions in different localities. 

 Report also states that the balance of gain derived from the Man- 

 chester Show will fall short of the somewhat modest sum originally 

 stated. 



