CONCERNING ROSE-SHOWS. 211 



whose best members were never yet ashamed if their own 

 were of purple baize. As time went on we might have 

 a library of horticultural, botanical, geological, and chemi- 

 cal books. We might have pictures, after the manner 

 of our dear old '^ Garrick " in King Street, of some famous 

 chiefs who had conferred real benefits upon the garden- 

 ing world. How glad we should be, for instance, to see a 

 good likeness of '' the Doctor," and of quaint old Donald 

 Beaton ! 



" My dear fellow," said to me a young person, whom, 

 after going through his admirable gardens and houses, and 

 hearing his professions of interest, I had mistaken for a 

 florist, and to whom I had incautiously revealed my club 

 aspirations, " you surely don't suppose I should meet my 

 gardener !" And he wore an expression of horror, as though 

 I had asked him to join a select party of lepers and ticket- 

 of-leavers. " Calm yourself," I made answer ; " there is no 

 fear of collision. You would not be elected, I assure you." 

 Fancy a fellow pretending to be fond of art, and wincing at 

 the idea of meeting an artist. More than this, he who 

 knows and reverences the gardener's art (and I would admit 

 no other to our club) must be a gentleman. He may not, 

 in some few instances, be aware that to leave out the h in 



