Provincial Societies. 109 



will be disavowed and protested against by the great body of the sub- 

 scribers. I could say more on this subject, especially on the manner of 

 carrying the scheme into effect. What have " Ladies Patronesses" to do 

 with the exhibition of the Society's garden ? But I forbear, my object 

 being to excite your attention to the subject, and to put your pen into 

 requisition, rather than to exercise my own. I am, Sir, &c. — A Subscriber 

 to your Magazine and F. H. S. London, June 21. 1827. 



Other letters on the same subject (by F. S. and W. M.), which we do not 

 think it of use to give at length, attempt to ridicule the idea of combining 

 Kensington Gardens, Vauxhall, and Bagnigge Wells, in what the writer says 

 should be exclusively devoted to science, and be supported on principles of 

 utility, and not rendered dependent in any degree on fashion. The price 

 of tickets for ladies is complained of, and also the limitation of the number 

 of ladies to one, from the families of such of the Fellows of the Society as 

 are not subscribers to the garden. 



At first sight there seems a deviation from propriety in mixing up fashion 

 with science, and rendering an experimental garden a public promenade ; 

 and if this were to be done frequently in the course of the season, we 

 should think the practice reprehensible : but what can be more harmless 

 than such a fete once a year ? If the Society may dine or breakfast together 

 once a year in a tavern, surely they may do so in their own garden. If it 

 be asked what strangers and the ladies have to do at such meetings, the 

 question may be answered by asking if horticulturists must necessarily 

 be less social and gallant than other men. For our own part, we are 

 of opinion that it would be an easy matter to show that such fetes are cal- 

 culated to do much good, both to the Horticultural Society and to society 

 in general. It is obviously allowable and praiseworthy to call in the in- 

 fluence of fashion as an auxiliary support to useful institutions ; and it will 

 not be denied, we think, that large assemblages are calculated to generalise 

 the manners, the feelings, and the taste of those who compose them. If the 

 difference in society in these matters were less, the moral strength and 

 happiness of society would be greater. But our pages are open to any 

 other view of the subject. ,. 



Art. IV. Provincial Horticultural and Florists 1 Societies. 



The Yorkshire Horticultural Society held a meeting, for the first time, in 

 the city of York, on July 18th. The meetings of this Society have been 

 hitherto held at Leeds ; but it is intended in future to hold four meetings a 

 year, two at York, and two at Leeds. We regret that we can only give 

 some very short extracts from the copious and well drawn up account of 

 the July meeting given in the Yorkshire Gazette. We confess we are equally 

 astonished and delighted at the number of useful, rare, and beautiful pro- 

 ductions which were exhibited. Among the fruits was a fine specimen of 

 the Carica papaya, a fruit nearly allied to the fig, and resembling a quince 

 in shape and size : it was from the stove of Lord Grantham at Newby Hall, 

 and has been very rarely seen in this country. A specimen of netting, for 

 preserving fruit trees from insects and from the effects of frost, was shown 

 by Mr. Slater of Yeadon, near Leeds, the manufacturer ; and a plan for 

 laying out one hundred acres of ground in plantations and gardens was 

 exhibited by Mr. Major, architectural and landscape gardener, of Knows- 

 thorpe, near Leeds. The thanks of the Society were given to various gen- 

 tlemen, particularly to John Smith, Esq., to Hawksworth Fawkes, Esq., to 

 Lord Grantham, to Mr. Horner, and to Messrs. Backhouse. The fruit is 

 stated to have been chiefly sent from the West Riding. The meeting was 



