May 26, 1906 



HORTICULTURE 



677 



British Horticulture 



A WELL DESERVED HONOR. 



Mr. Edwin Beckett is the latest recipient of the Vic- 

 toria Medal of Honor awarded by the Koyal Horticul- 

 tural Society. The number of these awards is limited 

 to 63, and they are given to horticulturists who have 

 distinguished themselves in some special department. 

 Mr. Beckett's record is one of which any man may feel 

 proud. Commencing with the advantage of inheriting 

 a love of gardening from his father and grandfather, he 

 early in life displayed an aptitude for the profession he 

 now adorns, for he became a foreman at the age of 17. 

 In 1884 he secured the charge of the magnificent gar- 

 dens at Aldenham House, Elstree, the seat of herd Al- 

 denhani, and he continues in that important position. 

 Some extensive work in remodelling the gardens has 

 been carried out during Mr. Beckett's tenure of office. 

 Mr. Beckett is known far and wide as an exhibitor. He 

 formerly showed chrysanthemums, and exhibiting 53 

 "twenty-fives" in various parts of the country he was 

 only beaten twice. As an exhibitor of vegetables Mr. 

 Beckett holds a premier position. He has secured the 

 first prize at nearly every show at which he has exhib- 

 ited, including several gold medals received from the 

 Royal Horticultural Society. His practical knowledge 

 of this section of horticulture has been embodied in a 

 well-known work entitled "Vegetable Culture.'' Mr. 

 Beckett's name is further perpetuated by the cup and 

 tube which he has invented for exhibiting chrysanthe- 

 mums. 



A MAN OF MANY PARTS. 



One of the busiest men in the horticultural world is 

 Mr. Walter P. Wright. One day I encounter him or- 

 ganizing the annual show of the National Potato So- 

 ciety, of which he was the founder, then as a judge at 

 a leading show, later touring in Kent, where he acts as 

 horticultural superintendent and lecturer. The next 

 morning I receive enlightenment from the horticultural 

 weekly Mr. Wright edits, relaxation from a gardening 

 story he has published, and knowledge from a useful 

 dictionary he has supervised. Mr. Wright has now- 

 been appointed superintendent and lecturer of the hor- 

 ticultural department at the South Eastern College, at 

 Wye. I have pleasant recollections of a delightful day 

 spent at Mr. Wright's old-world Kentish home, whose 

 placidity is in striking contrast to the strenuous life of 

 its owner. Here Mr. Wright occupies his limited leis- 

 ure by filling a parochial appointment. In my many 

 chats 1 have not yet found the secret of his marvellous 

 out-put — apparently he has discovered some method of 

 dispensing with sleep, except when he travels to and 

 from London. There is a great deal in heredity. Mr. 

 Wright's father is well known as a horticultural lec- 



turer and writer, whilst his brother has rendered yeo- 

 man service as the secretary of the National Sweet Peas 

 Society. Besides the work already enumerated, Mr. 

 Wright i- acting as secretary to a horticultural educa- 

 tion association formed of the county instructors in 

 gardening. 



i, 'RDENERS COMBINE. 



In using this hiadiug I do not wish to imply that 

 British gardeners are now seeking to make a "corner" 

 of their labor. The British Gardeners' Association, the 

 members of which are about to hold their annual meet- 

 ing, now numbers nearly 1000 members in various parts 

 of the country. The association was formed with the 

 laudable object of improving the status of the gardeners. 

 Whilst for many years there have been organizations 

 which have provided benevolent funds for gardeners, 

 until recently there was no combination for the jour- 

 neyman's advancement. The association will serve a 

 useful purpose in giving a better standing to competent 

 men. and in protecting employers against men who are 

 not qualified to hold a position. There is now a register 

 containing the names of capable men- who are seeking 

 appointments. Gardeners in nurseries and private es- 

 tablishments are qualified for membership. There is 

 no intention to make it a trades union, for that form of 

 combination has many objectionable features, and 

 would receive the vigorous opposition of employers. In 

 gardening work there cannot be the same regulation of 

 hours and a uniform standard of wages as are governed 

 by the unions of many trades, for the conditions of the 

 work are so totally different. The new association has 

 made a good start and should fill a very useful part in 

 the gardening world. 



?Wrf. ftelt*&. 



London, England, Mai/ 12th, '06. 



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