386 THE GARDENER. [Sept. 



result occasionally anticipated, and not dreaded when realised : the 

 large resources of that great Society can bear an occasional strain like 

 that without fear of bankruptcy j and even a financial loss brings with 

 it no diminution of prestige, for next year it will take the field as 

 imposingly, and as confident as ever. On the other hand, a financial 

 loss to the Royal Horticultural Society will be certain to result in 

 some loss of prestige also. 



We have heretofore advised the Horticultural Society to divorce 

 itself from the Agricultural Society when it visits the provinces, and go 

 in a contrary direction if need be, so that it stands alone in its appeal. 

 The poetic cobwebs hung round the utterances of those who speak of 

 the societies as " twin sisters," and require that they should "go hand 

 in hand " in consequence of such supposed relationship, are very 

 pretty ; but the yoking process appears to have its disagreeable aspects, 

 inasmuch as it has been stated the Royal Agricultural Society cares 

 not for the companionship of its "twin sister." It is like sending two 

 rival maidens hand in hand to seek the good graces of some country 

 swain, and jealousy rather than concord is far more likely to ensue. 

 The fact that at a public reception given by the Corporation of the City 

 of Oxford to the authorities of the Royal Agricultural Society, the 

 Council and leading representatives of the " twin sister " were alto- 

 gether overlooked, or, if not wholly, at least largely so, has a certain 

 sense of grim humour about it, and may perhaps, even more than the 

 financial loss, tend to bring about that change in the policy of the 

 Council so many of the friends of the Society are desirous of seeing 

 made. To be seriously regarded by the civic authorities on such an 

 occasion as a kind of itinerant prodigy, to be held in temporary vener- 

 ation, is to our mind what each member of the Council of the Royal 

 Horticultural Society is not only bound to expect, but ought to receive; 

 but when these gentlemen come into competition in this respect with 

 others not more deserving, or more talented, but because of their asso- 

 ciation with an organisation of apparently much greater importance, 

 and having higher claims to public notice, and which is always the first 

 in the field, why, they may reasonably expect to be elbowed into door- 

 ways and such places by their bucolic brethren; 



There is every reason to believe that, were the Horticultural Society 

 to go to the provinces alone, there would be no lack of cities and towns 

 willing to receive them ; to co-operate with them in many ways by 

 means of a guarantee fund, a local committee, special prizes, &c. ; 

 nay more, we further believe that applications would be made to the 

 Society on the part of those places desiring the honour of a visit. 

 The Social Science Congress, the British Association, various religious 

 conferences, &c, all these are eagerly sought for, and why should it not 



