Provincial Horticultural Societies. 291 



" Wakefield and its vicinity appear to possess facilities for the accom- 

 plishment of such a project, inferior to no district within this great palatinate, 

 indeed little inferior to any in the kingdom. The country is beautiful and 

 charmingly varied, and, from the diversity of soil, suited to varied pro- 

 ductions ; the whole thickly interspersed with seats and villas of persons 

 of opulence, possessing their conservatories, hot-houses, and stoves, their 

 orchards, flower, and kitchen gardens , whilst few towns can boast (as Wake- 

 field can) of so many gardens within its enclosure, cultivated with so much 

 assiduity and skill, so much taste and deserved success. With such a sphere 

 to act in, with such materials to work upon, if we but unite our efforts, we 

 cannot fail to succeed. And what, then, gentlemen, are the determinate 

 and immediate steps to be taken by us? I believe we shall best consult the 

 importance and respectability of our projected society by associating our- 

 selves to the Yorkshire Society, already distinguished by the number and 

 rank of its members, with the proviso of our being considered an integral 

 portion or branch, with the right of having at least one annual meeting in 

 Wakefield, and that in the autumn. If I am rightly informed, these privi- 

 leges were offered to be guaranteed to us, if we succeeded in obtaining from 

 fifteen to twenty subscribers in this vicinity ; and, gentlemen, I have the 

 pleasure to state that already our number amounts to sixty ; and I conceive 

 that it will depend solely on our own exertions, and the exercise of our 

 influence with our respective friends, speedily to double that number. I 

 feel less hesitation in holding forth expectations so sanguine, when I reflect 

 that, seven years ago, I had the honour to originate a similar project in 

 Preston, in Lancashire, and with the happiest success. In that borough, 

 possessing far less advantages than Wakefield offers, a horticultural society 

 was established, which, in its four annual meetings, assembles all the rank 

 and fashion of a circuit of more than ten miles, and numbers more than 120 

 subscribers to its funds. Those who have not witnessed the interesting 

 sight, can form but a faint idea of the animating scene which is presented in 

 a spacious and handsome room, tastefully adorned with the choicest exotics 

 from various conservatories, and the more choice, because selected with a 

 view to competition ; decorated with the varied beauties of the parterre, 

 vying with each other in fragrance, hue, and delicacy of texture; whilst the 

 tables groan under the weight of delicious fruits and I'are vegetables in end- 

 less variety, the joint produce of hot-houses, stoves, orchards, and kitchen- 

 gardens. Figure to yourselves, gentlemen, this Eljsium, graced by some 

 hundreds of our fair countrywomen, an absolute galaxy of animated beauty, 

 and that -music lends its aid, and you will agree with me that a more 

 fascinating treat could hardly be devised. 



" Should it be thought that the projected society thus principally recom- 

 mends itself as an elegant recreation only, I am free to assert that the 

 practical results of similar institutions are of much higher importance ; in- 

 deed, were no other beneficial consequences to ensue than the taste for 

 gardening, which, through the influence of provincial societies, is certain to 

 be spread through the community, I should deem the object worthy of your 

 patronage and support. But the amicable rivalship which is created by the 

 distribution of honorary rewards, whilst it stimulates the industrj^, adds to 

 the knowledge and skill of the professional man, and to the pleasure and 

 enjoyment and harmless luxuries of the amateur. All excellence, and 

 beauty especially, is comparative : hence the wisdom and utility of assem- 

 bling under one view the varied productions of distant gardens, and speci- 

 mens of the industry, art, and abilities of different horticulturists. This 

 enables us to discriminate between the diversified modes of treatment and 

 the varieties of produce, to select and adopt the most efficacious and 

 desirable. New flowers, new fruits, recent varieties of those of long stand- 

 ing and of established character for excellence, are thus introduced, iu lieu 

 of those whose inferiority is no longer doubtful. New culinary vegetableSj 



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