1873.] REPORT OF SECRETARY AND LIBRARIAN. 57 



Professional Gardeners. It is impossible for them to contest the palm of 

 superiority upon equal terms: it is therefore unjust to exact it. The dis- 

 crimination proposed is fair and apparently free from valid objection. At 

 least the experiment might be tried, and, if found impracticable when 

 tested, the novel step could be retraced." 



The Committee for the Establishment of Premiums, concluding that a 

 trial of the experiment, as here proposed, could at least do no harm, 

 offered a schedule of prizes in money, to be contested throughout the sea- 

 son solely by Amateurs. One stand was assigned to each competitor, as 

 it was deemed of essential importance that quantity should be subordina- 

 ted to excellence. And it was interesting to observe, from week to week, 

 the development of a progressive taste in the selection of varieties and 

 disposition of colors. If our florists have one fault, more conspicuous 

 and therefore obnoxious than another, it is to be detected in their too fre- 

 quent arrangement of the treasures at their command, in (ibvious disre- 

 gard of all natural harmony of tone and tint. Should our recent experi- 

 ence have accomplished aught toward ?■ remedy of this too common error, 

 the Society will have done more to " advance the Science and encourage 

 " and improve the Practice of Horticulture," — the purpose for which it 

 was organized, — than it could have effected in any other way- Skill in 

 arrangement has become a matter of distinct and specific competition in 

 England. With the book of Nature open before us. replete with illustra- 

 tions of richest hue, yet all disposed in utmost harmony of color, it needs 

 must be only those who, having '' eyes yet see not," ignorantly or will- 

 fully reject the proffered lesson. 



A discrimination in favor of Professional Florists, estabhshed during 

 the trial of this experiment, should no longer be tolerated. The Amateur 

 is obliged to' snatch from other and unavoidable occupations the scant 

 moments that may be devoted to Floriculture. Familj- cares cannot 

 be sununarily set aside by a lady, if such is our amateur. On the con- 

 trary, the professional gardener is simply following the occujiation of his 

 life. That the premiums should be equalized supplies him with no 

 ground for complaint. It is recommended that both classes be placed 

 upon the same pecuniary level in the preparation of the Summer Schedule 

 for 1874 and also that a moderate increase of the Premiums be author- 

 ized. 



One benefit that was anticipated from engaging the interest of Amateur 

 Florists has been fully experienced. Heretofore, there was no positive 

 assurance of anything to be seen to attract visitors. But when it became 

 evident that there was an absolute certainly, each successive week, of an 

 abundant and even elegant display, the public, slow, perhaps, but never- 

 theless sure to appreciate excellence, coujmenced and thereafter con- 



