Fobroary 13, 1868. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICOLTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 



w 



sense, we do not know any one to whom the term ia more 

 applicable than it is to a highly educated Engineer officer, 

 whose training in science and administration, as much as in 

 engineering, is essentially practical. But if he meant it to 

 have a professional signification, and tliat the Secretary of the 

 Royal Horticultural Society ought to be a professional horti- 

 culturist, he is asking for what, during the whole existence of 

 the Society, has never been. One of the most popular and 

 useful Secretaries the Society ever had was a brother of the 

 present General Sabine. This gentleman was not a profes- 

 sional, but an amateur horticulturist, as Colonel Scott is ; and 

 his profession, we believe, was that of a Surveyor of Taxes. 

 Dr. Henderson was not a professional horticulturist, and we are 

 sure that neither Mr. Bentham nor Dr. Eoyle wou'.d acknowledge 

 to be "skilled in horticulture;" indeed we doubt very much 

 if either of the latter knew as much about horticulture as the 

 present Secretary does. But we need not go through the lists for 

 the purpose of showing that the office of Secretary need neces- 

 sarily be filled by a professional horticulturist. What the So- 

 ciety really wants is a gentleman of administrative ability, who 

 can and will bring that ability to bear on the management of its 

 afi'airs, and particularly on its finances ; and we have no hesi- 

 tation in saying that never since the Society was instituted has 

 It been so highly privileged in this respect as it is now, not 

 even excepting that period when its affairs were under the 

 direction of the much-lamented Mr. Sabine. 



ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING. 



The Annnal (ieneral Meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society 

 was held ou Tuesday, and there was a rather smaller attendance of 

 Fellows than usual. 



In the unavoidable absence of his Grace the Duke of Bucclench, 

 K.G., President of the Society, the chair was taken by Mr. W. Wilson 

 Saunders, wbo was supported by General Grey, Lieut. -Col. Scott 

 (Secretary), Major Trevor Clarke, Rev. J. Dix, Messrs. T. Brandreth 

 Gibbs, G. F. Wilson, A. Murray, and H. Cole, C.B. 



Mr. G. E. Blenkins and Mr. R. Fortune were appointed Scmtineers 

 of the ballot for the election of members of Council and officers for the 

 ensuing year. 



The Assistant Secretary, Mr. .Tames Richards, read the minutes of 

 the last meeting, which were approved and confirmed. The Assistant 

 Secretary then, at the request of the Chaurman, read the Annual 

 Report. 



The Chaikman said it became his duty to move " that the Report 

 just read be received and adopted ;" but before doing so he would be 

 glad to hear anything which any of the Fellows might have to say 

 npon it. 



Sir RonKRT Moxtgomery, Bart., observed there was a notice given 

 of a Horticultural Exhibition at Leicester, and it would, he con- 

 sidered, be necessary for the Fellows to have some details. 



The Ch-UUman was anxious to alford all the information in his 

 power, and begged to inform the hon. baronet, that as regarded the 

 Exliibition at Bury St. Edmunds, the Council were very much satis- 

 fied with it. although, as set out in the Report, there were several 

 drawbacks. The weather was very bud, but at the same time the num- 

 ber of people that docked to the Horticultural Show was so large, that 

 a great deal of money was taken, and some i,''2UI) or fiillO added to the 

 funds of the Society. There having been a good profit there, it was 

 thought by good management a similar show might be can-ied out at 

 another place, and, with increased experience, at a less expenditure. 

 The Council, therefore, did not liesitate to throw themselves in with 

 the good people at Leicester, and there they were received with open 

 arms. They (the Royal Horticultural Society), had made evei*y pre- 

 paration to cany out the Show, and tlie thanks of the Society were 

 eminently due to one member of tlic Council, Mr. Brandreth Gibbs ; 

 and they believed it would be, and should be glad to see it, up to any 

 show hitherto held [hear, hear]. The Leicester people have come 

 forward in a vei-y handsome ninnner. The Society had received a 

 letter from tliere, which he (tlie Chairman) would read, and which 

 would show the earnestness that was being thrown into the matter. 

 The letter was as follows : — 



" Leicester, 10th February, 1868. 



*'My Dear Sm, — We have a meeting to-day to receive the collecting 

 books for special prizes for the I^iyiil. The totaiamount to the present time 

 is £2'25, and ni.any books have yet to be returned. I intended to have 

 went a copy ut" the prizes by to-night's post, but the meeting lasted so long, 

 and I find it will take some time to arrange, that I must defer it. Several 

 of the collectors asked fur more time. I told them that it wasimperative 

 that the Schedule should be issued at once. I intend having something 

 for the Chronicle this week, to stir up our Nott'nghamshire neigh^lour^. 

 I invited Mr. Lowe to be with us to-dny, but he did not turn up, uor did he 

 write. Messrs. Ingram, Sage, and Henderson gave us a good account. 

 The guarantee fund is complete. — I remain, yours truly, 



(Signed) " Wjl. P. Cox. 



*' James Richards, Esq., Royal Horticultural Society." 



So that the Society would see that at the present time they had more 

 prizes already than last year, and he (the Chairman), believed that 

 the £225 spoken of in that letter would be largely augmented. As 

 far as appeared to the Council, all the arrangements at present seemed 



very satisfactory ; but there was another letter, which he (the Chair' 

 man), would lilce to road to the Meeting, as it would show still farther 

 how well the affair was working. That letter was in the following 

 terms ; — 



"Slidland Railway, General Manngcr's Oftlco, Derby, 

 ■■ loth February, 1868. 

 " .Sin,— In reference to your letter of the IHtb December, addressed to 

 the Secretary. I have pleasure in informing you that in the case of plants, 

 «S:(!., intended for exhibition at the ensuing wliow of the Royal Horticultural 

 Siiciety.the Midland Company will be able to afford the usual special 

 facilities granted on snch occasions — viz.. the full ordinary rates to ba 

 charged to the Show, but the plants, &c., to be returned free, providing 

 they remain the property of the sender.— I am. your obedient servant, 

 (Signed) "James -Vllpout, Manager. 



"James Richards, Esq., Royal Horticultural Society, South Kensington." 



All that showed a great desire on the part of those connected with the 

 Show at Leicester in any way to make tlie visit of the Soeietv as satis- 

 factory as possible, and ho (the Chairman), had no doubt it woiild tend to 

 the production of horticultural exhibitions in other parts, which must 

 do great good, for it would extend into the provinces a knowledge of 

 many of the Society's finest plants ; it would enlarge their sphere of 

 usefulness, and increase their funds. He (the Chairman), should add 

 that these Shows were held on the principle of taking an equal risk 

 and dividing an equal share of the prohts with the local Society. This 

 course would bo adopted at Leicester, so that the members would see 

 the Local Committee were as much interested as the Horticultural 

 Society themselves in promoting and extending the usefulness of the 

 Show. 



Mr. Henry Liggins rose to make a few observations on the Report- 

 They had had before them a report of considerable length, embracing 

 many features, and there were also voluminous accounts. These he 

 considered might very easily, and without any great stress of work 

 upon the ofhcials, have been circulated among the members some time 

 before that meeting. That not having been done, he did not think 

 they were in a position to criticise the accounts ; and these ought not 

 to have been put into their hands at that meeting for the first time, 

 thus leaving them without the opportunity of perusing them. He 

 thought that in future (and he was not placing the shghtest opposition 

 to the passing of the Report), the Report ought to be cii'culated a fort- 

 night at least previous to the meeting. It was the practice at railway 

 meetings to do so, and he thought it would be more satisfactory in 

 their case. With regard to the monoypaid to their officers, he did not 

 see a single reason in the world why thev should not appear on the 

 balance sheet. Ho should like to know what they [aid their Secretary 

 (Lieut.-Col. Scott, of the Royal Engiteersl, who might be in the room 

 and yet had not the courtesy to read the Report, but placed it in tba 

 hands of the Assistant Secretary. The latter gentleman he always 

 found doing arduous, important, and serviceable work for that Society. 

 They wanted a man at the head of the department who was practical, 

 and who should consider it his duty to attend tlie meetings and read the 

 Report. For what he knew, the Council might have got the best man, 

 but he (Mr. Liggins), did not know anything of him. They wanted to 

 know whether he was skiUed in horticulture, and whether he was 

 skilled in general management. What were his avocations and 

 salary ? At present there was an unfavourable silence about them 

 out of doors, and be felt he could not answer that silence. He 

 shonld like to speak in the higuest praise of every otlicer of the 

 Society, and that was the reason why he asked his present 

 question.s. It behoved them to take care of their resources. They 

 stood on a very precarious footing, and they should not allow 

 themselves to be lax in their dealings, seeing that they were opposed 

 so strongly by the Crystal Palace, the Botanic, and other Societies. 

 They might find themselves in an unpleasant position with their great 

 work at Cbiswick, which, however, at present was in a state highly 

 creditable to the Council, to whom they were also much indebted for 

 the great diligence they had displayed in getting up those very charm- 

 ing afternoon meetings. 



Mr. Henry Cole. C.B., said he was not sure that they had had the 

 advantage of the last speaker's presence before : but at all events he 

 (Mr. ColeJ, had been p;-esent at a gi'oat many meetings of the Society, 

 and if he was not mistaken he had never before seen him at the 

 meetings, so that it was not surprising he (the last speaker; had not 

 seen Colonel Scott. 



Mr. Liggins. — I have been a Fellow for many years. 



Mr. Cole did not know whether his observation was apt or not, but 

 he was stating a fact that he did not know whether they had had the 

 benefit of that gentleman's experience. He dared "say if the last 

 speaker had been present on other occasions he would have seen that 

 they were following the ordinary precedent with respect to reading the 

 Report; and v.ifhin bis (Mr. Cole's) experience, the Society's accounts 

 had always been presented in the way they were now. Ho rather 

 agreed with Mr. Liggms.'that if they had not all been great conser- 

 vatives it might have been expedient for them to issue the accounts 

 before the meeting ; but so long as he (Mr. Cole) was a member of 

 the Council he should vote against any change in that respect. Mr. 

 Liggins had objected to there being nothing in the accounts about the 

 salary of Colonel Scott, of whom he very properly said he " knew 

 nothing." They were asked why they took Colonel Scott as Secretary, 

 and what was the stupendous salaiy they paid him. It was very 

 desirable to have a gentleman who would pay a great deal of attention 

 to his duties ; and he also might consider, as probably Mr. Liggins 



