(Aall&way Horticultural Society. 2 1 ']. 



Art. V. Scotland. 



Dumfries and Galloivai; Horticultural Society. This society was es- 

 tablished in 1812, chiefly through the exertions of W. Grierson, Esq. now 

 the secretary. It was liberally supported by the proprietors and gardeners 

 of the two counties from which it takes its name; and the number of 

 members soon amounted to upwards of a hundred. We have been 

 favoured with a copy of the " rules and regulations" of the society, with 

 the list of " prizes" for 1826, and an explanatory letter by Mr. Grierson, 

 who has also obligingly offered to send accounts of the general meetings, 

 which are held every September, for insertion in the Gardener's Magazine. 



The society consists of three descriptions of members ; ordinary, ex- 

 traordinary, and honorary. The ordinary consist of practical gardeners, 

 who pay a subscription of five shillings annually; the extraordinary, of pro- 

 prietors and amateurs, who pay 10s. 6d. annually; the honorary members 

 must not be connected with the counties of Dumfries or Galloway. 

 The two first classes of members, on admisson, pay one year's subscription, 

 " as entry money towards a fund for purchasing useful practical books for 

 the accommodation of the members." 



" The object of the institution is to promote and improve the cultivation 

 of the best kinds of fruits, of the most choice sorts of flowers, and of 

 those vegetables which are most useful in the kitchen. For this purpose, 

 a certain number of prize medals, or sums of money, shall be bestowed 

 annually on such operative gardeners, or others, as shall be declared by 

 proper judges to be entitled to the preference. Useful communications 

 shall also be received, either from amateurs, or from practical gardeners, on 

 any topic connected with horticulture, though not drawn up on the sug- 

 gestion of the society ; and such communications shall be read at the 

 quarterly meetings." 



The objects for which prizes are to be given, are annually printed upon 

 half sheets of paper, which may thus be sent by post as single letters to all 

 the members. Forty-eight prizes are offered for 1826. The value of the 

 prizes for each article is to be determined at the time of ascertaining its 

 comparative merits. 



" The result of our labours," Mr. Grierson observes in his letter, " has 

 amply proved the great advantage of the society, by the introduction of 

 many new kinds of flowers, fruits, and vegetables, unknown in this quarter 

 before, and by the improved culture of those which we had. Besides, it 

 has roused the spirit of the gardeners to excel in their profession. The 

 premiums and medals we have distributed have proved a great excitement. 

 Should the patronage and fostering influence with which the society has 

 been sustained, for several years, be continued, the greatest benefits, and 

 most agreeable results to the country at large, will be the consequence; 

 and the subject requires only to be duly considered, to convince every 

 gentleman in the country who is possessed of a garden, that it is his own 

 advantage to support such societies. 



" As the best methods of extending the benefits of the institution, we 

 have had in contemplation the formation and establishment of an experi- 

 mental garden, which would soon be arranged, were adequate funds pro- 

 cured. Already considerable subscriptions have been made, and we cal- 

 culate that a small subscription from each member would complete the 

 work. The London Society have been very generous in promoting our 

 undertaking, and we feel grateful for the : r kind attention ; indeed their 

 plan is most liberal. That society may be considered as a fountain, from 

 which all the local societies will be supplied, and eventually the whole 

 country stocked with every thing rare and valuable." 



This society has two good features, which, as far as we know, are pecu- 

 liar to it, that of appointing a chaplain, and of admitting ladies to be 



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