73 



the entries mil be numerous, and having but a small appro- 

 priation for this department, they unavoidably earn the reputa- 

 tion of caring little to encourage the showing of flowers, which 

 we think unjust. It is bad for the exhibitor, for it narrows 

 down his chances to the getting of nothing at all on one hand, 

 or on the other, a sum next to nothing, which shows mere 

 recognition of merit without at all rewarding it. Lastly, it is 

 bad for the Committee, for it loads them with the united re- 

 sponsibilities of criticism and award, exposing them to the cen- 

 sure of disappointed exhibitors, with no defence for what may 

 have been a conscientious disregard, save what such exhibitors 

 would call caprice, or arrogance, or incapacity. Now these are 

 real evils ; and as we desire the good of the institution and its 

 shows of flowers, so we would see them corrected. We believe 

 it has been objected to the idea of fixed prizes, or premiums, 

 that this is not a Horticultural, but an Agricultural Society, 

 and the giving of such premiums for flowers would be foreign 

 to its genius and purposes. No doubt this is well enough in 

 theory, but how much nearer the genius of the institution is a 

 system of gratuities ? If it be foreign to its purpose to en- 

 courage the growing and management of flowers, then it is 

 surely an error to award anything for their exhibition, if it be 

 not so to allow that exhibition at all ; — if it be not thus for- 

 eign, then the award should not only be made, but made in the 

 way to accomplish the best results. If it be really true that 

 the distinction is so broad between Horticulture and Agricul- 

 ture that the Society cannot feel free to take the best method 

 in spending a little money upon its floral shows, then we re- 

 spectftdly submit that it would be better to omit that part of 

 the afiair altogether. 



But we do not design to press these considerations any 

 farther than to say that in this thing, as in the matter of ac- 

 cepting or rejecting articles, the Committee were compelled to 

 take into their own hands, and do, what ought, it seemed to 

 them, to have been done already to their hands. To have en- 

 tered into a just comparison of the qualities of all the articles 

 10 



