HORTICULTURAL SOCIETIES 3 



the town has derived directly from the profits of the 

 undertaking, though concerning the amount of money 

 the two days' show must bring into and circulate through 

 the town, it is not possible to speak. 



It will be gathered from the foregoing remarks that 

 Flower Shows begin in various ways : doubtless there are 

 other kinds of " beginnings" than those referred to. 



Every exhibition of horticultural produce, whether it be 

 a tiny display in an upper room, a modest local effort, 

 a good district show, or a huge London or Provincial 

 gathering, should be of distinctly educational value, 

 otherwise there is no good reason for its existence. Even 

 if the sacred cause of charity is the motive power, the 

 exhibition must be of educational as well as competitive 

 and spectacular interest, or it will sooner or later, 

 collapse. It is quite possible to arrange for a special 

 class or classes that will be the means of attracting the 

 most successful competitors from all parts of the country, 

 and, as a rule, this feature proves a profitable one, 

 because so many people will go to see the exhibits staged 

 by famous competitors. 



In the case of quite small local shows, where it would 

 be a practical impossibility to secure a very large attend- 

 ance, the institution of expensive Open Classes would 

 be a foolish proceeding. It is equally foolish for 

 Societies that are well situated and have a fairly wide 

 field of operation, to exclude classes open to all the 

 country. It is no secret, however, that some Committees 

 will not even consider the question of Open Classes. 

 They are, apparently, afraid the prize money will not 

 be won by a local competitor, and so their selfishness 

 prevents the Society from advancing as it should do. 



Some well-known Flower Shows are such by reason 

 of the big prizes offered, but their success lies upon a 

 very insecure foundation. A couple of wet seasons, 

 with a consequent loss of gate money, may put the 



