London Nurseries. 469 



little ceremony by tlie officers and servants of this Society, ought to be 

 made acquainted with the above particuhu-s. The Society collects some 

 thousands per annum, and is always making a great parade and profession 

 of its labours. I am one of those who cannot at present see what good 

 the science of horticulture derives from this Institution, in the way in 

 which it is now conducted; and it is high time that the doings of several 

 individuals, who are making the Society a monopoly to serve their own 

 views, should be brought under public notice. Every person who, either 

 as a member or a visitor, has any business to transact at the office, is really 

 treated with so much rudeness, that not only have many resigned, but few 

 like to go to the Meetings at all. What is the reason that the bj--laws are 

 not reprinted, and a copy given to every Fellow? The Transactions of the 

 Society are a meagre performance, the plates being much better than the 

 composition or knowledge contained in the letter-press. What is the 

 reason that no list of Fellows and Members has been printed for the 

 last two years? What a pity it is that some twenty or thirty Fellows, who 

 have the real interests of this Society at heart, do not call a fleeting, throw 

 the whole concern open to the public, and elect a really efficient Council, 

 and not allow themselves to be treated with such contumely ! Each Fellow 

 is made to sign an obligation to obey laws and statutes which he has never 

 read, because no copy is sent to him ; although there is a section of one 

 by-law which positively enacts that every Member shall be furnished with 

 a copy. Very few of the Fellows know this ; and the object is to prevent 

 their knowing it. No Member is allowed to speak or address the Sleeting 

 under any circumstances. I shall sliortly have occasion to address you. Sir, 

 again, as I am well convinced any abuses only require to be made known 

 to be remedied ; and the interest you take in rendering the public con- 

 stant service, induced me to trouble you on this occasion. — An Enemy to 

 Humbug." {Sunday Times, July 1 2.) 



We wish we could say, with the writer of the foregoing letter, that " any 

 abuses only required to be made known to be remedied." We have been 

 pointing out the abuses of this Society ever since we commenced the Gar- 

 dener's Magazine, and yet we know of no etFect that has been produced but 

 the secession of a few dozen members. W^e could say a great deal on the 

 subject, but it would not be of much use. The fact is, nothing will ever be 

 made of the Society, till it gets completely rid of a certain intriguing indi- 

 vidual, whom we shall take care neither to name nor describe. The So- 

 ciety might then be arranged on a comparatively republican principle, which 

 would be found much more suitable to science than its present autocratic 

 one, by which, among other mouth-stopping regulations a Member cannot 

 ask a question before giving six weeks' notice in writing, and for which 

 the Fellows are indebted to the individual in question and to the by-laws, 

 — Cond. 



Art. VI. The London Nurseries. 



As I have not lately been able to extend my rambles far, I have observed 

 only a few articles worthy of your attention. Among these may be men- 

 tioned a fine high-bred intermediate, between Cactus speciosissima and 

 speciosa, promising to blend the free floration of the latter with the 

 splended colour of the former, exhibiting the angular stem of the one 

 with the flat leafy appearance of the other, and at the same time demon- 

 strating that art and nature are alike fertile in the production of high-bred 

 varieties ; which varieties are often received by botanical writers, w ho are 



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