1880.] TRANSACTIONS. 67 



"The Final Judo-ment ! What is that?" Was the statesman 

 right ? And must Flora indeed become a party to the irre- 

 pressible conflict between God and Mammon ? 



The question is often raised, — what is the difference between 

 an Amatenr and a Professional Florist ? With a slight change 

 of names, as from Florist to Gardener, — the subjoined classifica- 

 tion of exliibitors by the Oarrlener'^s Chronicle^ (Eng.), would ap- 

 pear to be sufficiently definite : 



" As used in reference to country vshows, the designation ' Ama- 

 teurs ' is understood to apply to persons who manage their gardens 

 themselves, or with more or less assistance from a jobbing gardener or 

 garden laborer, and who do not systematically derive pecuniary advan- 

 tage from the ))ursuit. Gardeners, properly so called, are either nursery 

 gardeners, maiket gardeners, or gentlemen's gaideners ; the latter 

 being employed by private individuals to undertake the management 

 of their gardens for them. 



No rule or description can be understood to be of absolutely uni- 

 versal application : but exceptional cases should be dealt with equita- 

 bly, on their own merits, by the managing committee at the time." 



Points arc often mooted that seem to be snggosted and influ- 

 enced by a querulous spirit of casuistry. Such, and all others 

 as well, are best settled by the application of sound common 

 sense and a rigid impartiality. 



The Small Fkuits were displayed in their usual plenty, 

 throughout the Summer. A protracted drought, during the 

 period of bloom, materially diminished tlie crop of Strawberries. 

 As they were ripening, frequent and timely showers came to the 

 aid of the grower, enabling him to save a fair yield of excep- 

 tionally perfect fruit. The experience of each year but confirms 

 the imperative warnings of the past that, for absolute success in 

 the production of the Strawberry, irrigation in some form is 

 indispensable. The plant may stand with its feet in water or 

 it may luxuriate in the cool moisture derived from a heavy mulch. 

 There may be patches of ground that, from peculiarity of soil or 

 conformation, will answer the purpose naturally : but, as our 

 vernal seasons have chanced, latterly, the average cultivator 

 must have something else to depend upon than the tickle skies of 

 May or June. It is a satisfaction to note that this truth is appre- 



