152 HORTICULTURE IJBOT. x 



this direction there is a great disposition on the part of land- 

 owners, clergymen, and well-to-do residents generally to co- 

 operate, and subscribe what are, to them, small amounts, as 

 honorary members. Tradesmen usually follow the example and 

 in that way a fund is commenced and a committee is elected, 

 officers appointed and rules framed for the conduct of the 

 Society. Ardent amateurs not unfrequently take a lead in this 

 work, and professional gardeners are usually to be found ready 

 to give what aid they can in advising and carrying out the 

 objects the committee have in view. 



Q. What are the usual rules and regulations by which these 

 Societies are governed ? 



A. They vary somewhat according to local circumstances, and 

 the best thing the leaders in the movement can do is to obtain 

 the rules of existing Societies and adopt such of them as may 

 be considered most applicable. Secretaries are always willing to 

 send copies of rules on receipt of stamps for postage. Those of 

 the Society mentioned in the lecture are very good and 

 generally obtainable in return for a penny stamp to defray 

 postage. 



Q. One statement in the lecture has caused some surprise 

 that in which it has been said the average yield of the useful 

 crops mentioned exceeds that of any country in Europe or state 

 in America. Is there no mistake ? 



A. With only one crop in one country is there any exception 

 the wheat crop in Holland : in all other useful crops of grains 

 and roots Britain takes the lead in average yields, as may be 

 seen by all who examine the agricultural returns as pub- 

 lished by the Government. They can be had from Messrs. 

 Spottiswoode. 



Q. You have in the course of the lectures alluded to the cultural 

 skill of gardeners in this country. Do you consider them equal 

 in capacity to the gardeners who are trained on the Continent ? 



A. Judging thorn by their all round capacity as growers of 

 flowers, fruit, and vegetables, I believe the best British gardeners 

 are equal to any in the world, and superior to most. 



Q. But it has been many times suggested that they must be 

 behind the continental gardeners because there are no proper 

 schools for teaching gardening in this country. What is your 

 opinion on the point ? 



A. It is very decidedly that there are by no means sufficient 

 grounds for any such suggestion, There are no schools on the 

 Continent in which practical gardening in all departments is so 

 well carried out as in hundreds of well appointed gardens in this 

 country ; and for acquiring knowledge of plants and their 



