210 Management of Horticultural Societies. 



progress and prosperity of all of them, and in the true en- 

 couragement of the rational and beautiful art of horticulture, 

 and a diffusion of the taste for it throughout all classes of 

 society, we have only to leave a few suggestions with those 

 who have the necessary practical experience in such matters. 

 It seems to us, that the difficulties under which societies, in 

 this country, at present labor, arise more from a deficiency of 

 interest in the public, and the comparatively few gardeners 

 and amateurs among us, than from any defects in the man- 

 agement. This cause is, however, rapidly diminishing, and 

 it may be well to inquire, occasionally, whether something 

 may not be done to increase the number of amateurs and of 

 those who will take an interest in such societies, and thereby 

 give them the best encouragement ; for it is manifest that the 

 more extended a correct taste becomes, the greater the number 

 of good judges of either fruits or flowers, the more choice 

 will be the specimens exhibited, and more stimulus will be 

 given to further exertion ; whereas, if the action of any so- 

 ciety is confined to a few members only, and the benefits 

 divided among themselves, it must necessarily fall away and 

 come to naught. Our notion is, and we presume we are right 

 in it, for it underlies and is the foundation of all horticultural 

 societies, that their object is to encourage the procurement, the 

 production and the cultivation of useful and ornamental 

 fruits, plants and flowers, and for the attainment of this object 

 there are some points to be attended to. 



First. — There should be some merit in the mode of culti- 

 vation, or in the quality of the subject intended for a prize, or 

 even for exhibition. 



Second. — There should be some object to be attained in 

 encouraging the cultivation of any thing intended for a prize 

 or for exhibition. 



Third. — Any production, to entitle the grower to a prize, 

 should be above an average quality, owing to his attention 

 and skill in procuring and growing the best varieties. 



The first of these propositions would shut out, perhaps, 

 some quantity of fruit with which the tables are often loaded, 

 to the exclusion of those varieties which are desirable to bring 

 into general notice and cultivation, there being no particular 

 merit in showing fruit which happens to grow upon a farm 



