440 THE GARDENER. [Oct. 



grapple with this evil, and arrange a register of lodgings at reason- 

 able charges. Let it also endeavour to utilise the element of prac- 

 tical gardening attracted to these shows. There should be some- 

 thing more than an expensive hotel in which to meet, with nothing 

 but tippling and talk for the evening's amusement : the former is 

 injurious, the latter mainly unprofitable. A public room should be 

 engaged as a rendezvous, where dinner and tea at least can be 

 obtained, and something less inebriating than spirits enjoyed. The 

 charges for these should be arranged on a moderate scale. For those 

 inclined to discuss, there should be a room provided ; those inclined 

 to a quiet chat over a glass of toddy should have their place of meet- 

 ing also. If it was desired to hold a Gardeners' Congress, as has been 

 suggested, to discuss their position, pay, and prospects, those advocat- 

 ing it could make their arrangements beforehand, and hold it at this 

 public meeting-place. There should be a popular horticultural dinner, 

 where all can meet; and while the jovial element need not be alto- 

 gether overlooked, speakers who can talk common - sense and say 

 something worth being listened to should be selected to lead the pro- 

 ceedings of the evening. The Horticultural Congress could also be 

 held, and the arrangements of this might be kept solely, as before, in 

 the hands of the Royal Horticultural Society. What is wanted is that 

 a gardener may be able to go to Nottingham and live and enjoy him- 

 self there for three days for the cost hitherto incurred for one night's 

 sojourn at Bury St Edmunds, Leicester, Manchester, or Oxford. This 

 great advantage secured, the next question is, How can he best dis- 

 pose of himself when there 1 These and other details are within the 

 scope of a committee, and we should like to see some of the sugges- 

 tions herein made, as well as those put forward by others, considered, 

 and as far as possible given effect to. All the separate atoms of indi- 

 vidual force, feeling, desire, and regard, want crystallising into one 

 mass of sociality and fraternal intercourse : in such an attempt as 

 that lies worthy work for a provincial committee. 



In the new society formed for the purpose of encouraging the 

 growth of florists' flowers, we recognise an agency by which a new 

 impetus will be given to the cultivation of many of the popular 

 flowers specially regarded by the florist. Its first exhibition was a 

 decided success ; and its supporters, pleased with such a result to 

 their labours, promised increased aid in the time to come. Among 

 others, Mr Keynes of Salisbury has given the sum of £7 for the best 

 twelve Dahlias of 1870-71, to be shown at the autumn exhibition of the 

 Society next year. This is a gleam of that fine enthusiasm that used 

 to shine out years ago at the various large Dahlia exhibitions then 

 held about the country. On this occasion exhibitors came from a long 



