THE 

 BOOK OF THE FLOWER SHOW 



CHAPTER I 

 HORTICULTURAL SOCIETIES 



HORTICULTURAL and Floral Societies abound in the United 

 Kingdom and, in addition to those having their beginning 

 and ending in an annual exhibition, there are very many 

 others, of the Mutual Improvement Society class, that 

 provide further educational advantages and, usually, 

 arrange for a small monthly competition among their 

 members. It would not be a difficult, though it would 

 be a tedious business, to compile a list of one thousand 

 societies which hold one or more exhibitions each year. 

 Some hold spring, summer, and autumn exhibitions, 

 others arrange for smaller special exhibitions each month, 

 while the Royal Horticultural Society holds a quite large 

 exhibition each fortnight, throughout the year. 



It is reasonable to assume that horticultural competi- 

 tions arose out of comparatively small non-competitive 

 exhibitions. This kind of evolution is continually in 

 progress. A Society is formed for the mutual discussion 

 of horticultural subjects, and often as the result of the 

 frequent meeting of a few congenial spirits at the home 

 of one of them, or at an inn. The Society increases 

 in membership, and members bring interesting plants, 

 flowers, fruits, and vegetables, or specially well-grown 

 produce, and then the spirit of friendly rivalry is set up. 

 Mr Brown believes he can grow carrots as fine as those 



