LINNEAN SOCIETY OF LONDON. XXXIil 
matured his plans for extending a system which would strike at 
the root of agricultural slavery, and for which he had been for ten 
years struggling with but very slender success: this was the 
allotment system, which from the time of his first proposing it, 
had met with the fiercest and best organized opposition. To pro- 
driving up to the house to exchange congratulations with the host and hostess. 
The servants have brought out their surprises. Upon the booth is seen a tri- 
umphant display of loyalty,—‘ God save the Queen,’ in daisies of emblematic 
white upon a laurel background. Over the door is a monster vegetarian, the 
counterfeit presentment of an agriculturist, spade and fork in hand, built up of 
laurel leaves, be-buttoned with daisies, and with a face rudely made out of 
jocund roses. Lastly a richly laurelled throne is brought out, something be- 
tween a sentry-box and a pulpit, and into this the Rector-Professor mounts to 
distribute the prizes. The giving of each prize is accompanied with praises and 
criticism, according as either is needed. The fuchsias are pronounced to be 
excellent, the pinks not so good. ‘ You must improve their cultivation,’ said the 
Professor, ‘ by the next show. In having such jagged edges they look too much 
like cloves. They look as if they had been jumping through the brambles and had 
torn their petticoats.’ The failing characteristic was understood in a moment. 
The wild-flower gatherers now stand round to receive their prizes, and to be 
asked questions. It was announced that one little girl had added twelve new 
species to the flora of Hitcham during the past year,—twelve, not brought hap- 
hazard with a heap of others, but detected separately in the field as not being in 
the printed catalogue, and not hitherto known to the University Professor of 
Botany as being inhabitants of his parish. Plants from the West of England, 
not before seen by the little botanists, were then shown to them, and the class, 
family, and genus were told without hesitation ; and when asked to what plant 
known to them they were related, the allied local species was named, though 
differing in general aspect. The plant was determined alone by its scientific 
characters. The prizes were awarded, and it did one’s heart good to see the 
little bob curtsy and intelligent simper that accompanied it. A present of bo- 
tanical boxes was promised to be given on the morrow. The banquet of tea and 
cake for the three hundred horticulturists who had taken penny tickets, and a 
hymn of loyalty and grateful interchange of huzzas between master and servants, 
concluded the proceedings. The parting adieu is still tinkling gently in our 
ear. 
“But a yet more interesting sight awaited us. On the morrow we visited 
the parish dame-school. The forms were crowded with children, the girls neat 
and intelligent, the boys somewhat quaintly clad and drowsy. As the Professor 
appeared at the door, also a little quaint, in his straw hat, with a rough hoe for 
a walking-stick, the pinafored botanists, who seemed to congregate by instinct, 
stood up to receive him. At oneend of the room was a cupboard, overlooked by 
a print of Joseph cast by his brethren into the pit, containing the parish herbarium. 
It consisted of dried specimens of the flora of Hitcham, neatly arranged and named, 
and outside on a board hung the printed catalogue of reference. Opposite to it 
was a large A BC table and some views of the Crystal Palace. At the other 
end of the room was the vivarium or collection of living specimens. Each plant 
LINN. SOC.—VOL. VI. c 
