LINES OF WORK FOR HORTICULTURAL SOCIETIES 



The matter of spending the society funds to 

 best advantage requires considerable attention 

 by the executive committees of the different 

 horticultural societies. The best hints can be 

 obtained by reading the reports from the most 

 successful societies. The secretaries of many 

 societies have sent The Horticulturist their 

 views as to what work is liable to result in 

 most good to the members and to the citizens. 

 The distribution of seeds, plants and bulbs is 

 recommended by all. All advise sending 

 some horticultural paper to the members, and 

 all except one prefer The Horticulturist. Gar- 

 den and lawn competitions, flower shows, ad- 

 dresses by authorities on suitable and season- 

 able topics, and other similar lines of work are 

 taken up by different societies. 



The work done by the Deseronto society, 

 and outlined and illustrated on pages 432 and 

 433 is worthy of emulation. The Stratford so- 

 ciety has become famous for its annual exhibi- 

 tion. Guelph, Simcoe and a number of others 

 have made excellent progress by working 

 through the school children and in this way 

 getting the parents interested. 



In different societies different metiiods must 

 be adopted. The directors of the society 

 should study what is most needed in their town 

 and then decide what is the best and most 

 satisfactory means of obtaining that need. If 

 the lawns and front gardens are in poor shape, 

 lawn competitions should give good results. If 

 few flowers are grown, the distribution of seeds 

 and flower shows might be most desirable. In 

 most cases, however, energetic societies can 

 manage to combine two or more features in 

 one season. , 



In the past the good work of some societies 

 has been detracted from by having fruit and 

 vegetables shown with the flowers. In these 

 cases trouble has been caused through the fruit 

 and vegetable exhibitors having scoured the 

 country to secure a collection of the best that 

 could be found in order to win the prize. When 

 prizes are not given the exhibitors are not 

 encouraged to show crops grown by others, but 

 many reports say that where money prizes are 

 not given the same enthusiasm is not displayed. 

 In some cases the absence of prizes has caused 

 a dearth of exhibitors. 



The secretary of a society in western On- 

 tario which has been doing fine work for eight 

 or nine years writes : " We hold a two-day 

 exhibition of plants, cut flowers, fruit and 

 vegetables each fall, at which premiums are 

 awarded as stated in the prize list which is 

 published in April or May. Competitions in 

 gardens, in which the decorative effect from 

 the street is made a leading feature, are held, 

 and prizes are given for lawns from which 

 fences have been removed, and for boulevards. 

 Besides, each member receives seeds or bulbs, 

 or both, with a request to exhibit flowers from 

 them at next year's exhibition. 



" These flowers are called for in the prize list 

 and premiums are awarded. This year we are 

 giving sweet pea seeds in six varieties and a 

 parcel of mixed flowering tulips. The peas 

 will appear in next year's prize list, and the 



tulips are a new departure that we expect will 

 be appreciated. We also have had addresses 

 on horticultural subjects. 



" No charge is made by the society for the 

 competition in gardens or lawns. Admission to 



A Grand Old Man. 



Much of the success of 

 many of the horticultural 

 societies cf Ontario, and in 

 cidently of The Canadian 

 Horticulturist, is due to the 

 untiring efforts of a few 

 luvers of the beautiful in 

 liorticulture who, in spite of 

 advancing years inclement 

 weather, lack of enthusiasm 

 on the part of the general 

 public (and sometimes on 

 lie part of their own direc- 

 tors), refuse to be discour- 

 aged, and as a result of 

 whose efforts their societies 

 ilo splendid work each year. 

 One of these enthusiasts is 

 Mr. Joseph Barker, the 

 secretary of the Kincardine 

 Horiicultural .Society. Last 

 -priiifj The Horticulturist 

 received a letter from Mr. 

 Barker in which he stated 

 that although 8i years of 

 age he was tramping 

 through the snow securing 

 members for his society and 

 readers for Tlie Horticulturist. Such devotion to a society should 

 encourage the secretaries of other societies, and explains, in part, 

 why The Horticulturist is steadily increasing in influence. The 

 illustration shows Mr. Barker. Ihe Kincardine society has been in 

 useful activity for alrout eight years. It was organized with only 15 

 members, at which time Mr. Barker was chosen secretary and 

 treasurer. The society has 126 members, and Mr. Barker still 

 serves as a most efficient officer in the same capacity as at the start. 

 Mr. Barker has been the clerk of the Division Court at Kincardine 

 for 40 years. He declares himself a lover of flowers from his 

 earliest recollection. 



the lectures is free and competitions are open 

 to citizens. The exhibition has resulted in the 

 . most good, but all combined have helped to 

 maintain a good, strong society." 



Mr. R. Walter Brooks, secretary of Brantford 

 society, says : " Our socitey, had it continued 

 only the old annual exhibition for fruit, flow- 

 ers and vegetables, would have ended in com- 

 plete failure. This year we had a new depart- 

 ure. In the first place we gave our members 

 The Canadian Horticulturist, which I think is 

 almost a necessity. Secondly, we distributed 

 to the school children about 6.000 packages of 

 seeds, consisting of asters, verbena, phlox, 

 scabiosa and salpiglossis. Thirdly, we had a 

 very successful exhibition. Mr. Hunt, of the 

 O. A. C, Guelph. said it was the most beautiful 

 lot of asters he ever saw. 



" There were about 500 entries, for which we 

 gave 119 prizes in plants, consisting of arau- 

 carias. palms, ficus and ferns. Each exhibitor 

 also received a hyacinth bulb. Everything in 

 regard to the exhibition was free and there 

 was gi-eat enthusiasm among parents and chil- 

 dren. It is great encouragement for us as we 

 have had a hard pull to get members this year, 

 but 1 have great promise for next year. Peo- 

 ple want to know how so much can be done for 

 nothing. The only answer is, avoid unneces- 

 sary expense and purchase plants for prizes in 

 the best market." 



440 



