Management of Horticultural Societies. 211 



or in a garden, and which the exhibiter had no agency in 

 producing or improving ; and no possible good can arise either 

 to science or to society, from a lavish distribution of prizes 

 for such produce. We think it also somewhat questionable 

 in floriculture, whether science can be advanced by the dis- 

 tribution of prizes for particular designs, however fanciful or 

 beautiful, if composed of ordinary flowers ; and may not the 

 attention of florists be diverted thereby from the growing of 

 the more superior varieties? and would not the rule be a 

 good one, that an ordinary flower should not be admitted at 

 all, under any circumstances 7 



The second proposition is, that there should be an object in 

 encouraging the cultivation of any thing intended for a prize, 

 and herein consists the value of horticultural societies. Now 

 the object may be the improvement of the subject itself, or it 

 may be that it is desirable to extend the public taste and con- 

 sequent cultivation, by making the subject a grand feature in 

 some particular show. The improved culture of plants in 

 collections is an object which interests every one ; and it is an 

 object which is always foremost in the minds of those inter- 

 ested in a show, and liberal prizes for collections of plants 

 should invariably be the first to be granted, because this holds 

 out an encouragement for the procurement and care of fine 

 plants, and brings a number of interesting subjects to the 

 exhibitions. But it may be desirable to encourage the growth 

 of some things not equally inviting to the company who usu- 

 ally attend exhibitions, though nevertheless interesting to 

 horticulturists, — say vegetables, for instance. Now we would 

 suggest whether this may not be better accomplished by hav- 

 ing prizes awarded to the quantity raised, of which a speci- 

 men may be shown, or for the best collection of vegetables fit 

 for the table, rather than by distributing prizes for the best 

 cabbage, the largest peas, a huge beet, or a monstrous squash ; 

 so also for collections of fruit, and in cases where art and 

 skill have prevailed and encouragement may be wanted. 

 Whoever first introduced the large Dutch currant, so much 

 superior to the old sorts, which occupied more space than 

 they were worth in the old gardens, or those who have or 

 can produce the best gooseberry or plum the least liable to 

 mildew or the worm, should be judged worthy of a prize ; 



