62 The Canadian Horticulturist. 



and machinery, the production of grain and of all kinds of vegetables, plants, 

 flowers and fruits, and generally for excellence in any agricultural or horticultural 

 production or operation, article of manufacture or work of art." 



"(2) The objects of horticultural societies shall be the same as those of 

 district and township agricultural societies, but in relation to horticulture and 

 arts only." 



It is evident, therefore, that there are five ways in which the funds of these 

 societies may be used. These may be summarized as follows, viz. : 



1. By holding meetings for discussing and for hearing lectures on subjects 

 connected with the objects of the society. 



2. By promoting the circulation of agricultural, and horticultural literature. 



3. By importing and otherwise procuring new and valuable seeds, plants, 

 etc. 



4. By giving prizes for essays on subjects connected with the objects of the 

 society. 



5. By holding exhibitions and awarding premiums for things connected 

 with agriculture, horticulture, etc. 



The fifth and last sub division — that permitting the holding of exhibitions 

 — is the only one generally acted on, but it must be apparent that if the funds 

 were expended as provided by either of the other sub-divisions, or partly under 

 all of them, the expenditure would be as legal as under the fifth. 



It is difficult to understand why towns and villages have not further availed 

 themselves of the provisions of the Act and established horticultural societies in 

 their midst, except on the supposition that the directors of such societies sup- 

 posed they had of necessity to expend the funds in holding exhibitions, and in 

 no other way, while they know that but little or no public good has resulted for 

 many years from such local exhibitions, and this applies also to many of the 

 township societies. Not to all ; some of them are yet doing good work. 



There are, however, many other reasons why so little interest is taken in 

 township and horticultural societies under the present prevailing system of 

 management. It is well known that the labor and care of managing such 

 exhibitions devolves mostly on the same persons from year to year in each 

 society, and they must also expend much time every year in begging their fellow- 

 citizens for their membership fees. Not a pleasant job at best, and this 

 unpleasantness is greatly increased by the knowledge that but comparatively 

 few of the members partake of the pecuniary benefits resulting from such 

 exhibitions. Those who receive the prize money generally render the least 

 assistance. 



The suggestions offered as a remedy for this state of affairs are : That 

 township and horticultural fairs or exhibitions — as a rule — should be given up 

 and that the provisions of the Act be so administered that each and every 

 member of such societies should receive equal advantage. And this can be 



