358 Horticultural Society and Garden. 



often with justice, deprecated as the worst blow in the fight, but I will 

 risk all consequences, and, as I have adopted your quarrel, I will continue 

 it on my own account, and, perhaps, in my zeal (for there is no saying how 

 far one may go, when the blood's up) carry it farther than you will thank 

 me for. But as I have noyv brought serious business upon myself, I must 

 meet it with becoming gravity if I can. 



Philo-Olitorum considers that the Horticultural Society ought to be 

 entirely independent of the aid and influence of the fashionable world ; 

 that it cannot exist under its auspices. Now I cannot, for my life, con- 

 ceive what sort of thing or monster he has conjured up in his imagination, 

 under the idea of the fashionable world, that has such a withering influence 

 in its aspect, that science cannot exist under it. Is it not the generally 

 received opinion, that the fashionable world is composed of the rank, 

 wealth, and talent of the country ? If that be allowed, I would like to know 

 what art or science can flourish without its immediate patronage. But I 

 insist, particularly, that its countenance is so es-sential to the flourishing of 

 horticulture, that it is only second to the sun in its effects upon it. With- 

 out its powerful cooperation, we gardeners would only be an undis- 

 tinguished set of ditchers and delvers, even the very grubs would despise 

 us, and eat their meal in comfort and security ! When Philo argues that 

 because the Society is supported by funds (voluntary subscriptions, be it 

 remembered) amply adequate for all its purposes, it has all it wants, he 

 puts me in mind of the poet's celebrated lines on the ascent of ambition, 

 so well known. " Lowliness is young Ambition's ladder," &c. &c. ; but 

 before the Horticultural Society can maintain its footing upon the " utmost 

 round," — " look in the clouds," &c. as he would have it, some rich Philo- 

 Olitorum must " die and endow it." In short, my opinion entirely coin- 

 cides with Mr. Loudon's, that opening the Society's garden once a year 

 for the admission of the fashionable world cannot be detrimental (far less 

 derogatory) to the interest of the Society, or horticulture in general. 

 Horticulture is like a fair lady, but as I am in some dread of Philo's sort of 

 negative admission of gardeners having a right to be gallant sometimes, and, 

 as I would not wish to offend even his sense of propriety by the most distant 

 allusion, I will say, like Virtue, the more she is seen and known, the better 

 her fine qualities are appreciated, and, of consequence, the more generally 

 beloved. 



I would add no more, as I am afraid of being accused of trifling with 

 your valuable time, but candour obliges one to take notice of the sweeping 

 condemnation of the conduct and management of the Council of the Hor- 

 ticultural Society your correspondent indulges in. Surely it cannot be 

 merited altogether. It has a difficult business in hand, and although it may 

 have committed some errors, yet I really have my doubts whether the 

 matter would be mended if Philo-Olitorum were made President, and had 

 the appointing of the Council to boot. The Council is chosen from amongst 

 what are considered the most enlightened of the members; from the 

 very nature of the business, being purely or in a great degree experimental, 

 it must be. allowed a discretionary power. Now, in horticulture, there is 

 such variety of methods, so much scope for taste, and such a conflict of opi- 

 nions regarding what is best for every thing, or any thing, that it is almost 

 impossible that any Council, however chosen, can give universal satisfaction. 

 Nor is it to be expected that it should give explanations for every thing 

 undertaken, which in many cases, perhaps, can only be justified by the 

 results, to every angry expostulator who chooses (on the strength of being 

 a Fellow, I suppose,) to demand them. Such a compliance would only 

 tend to embarrassment. As it is to be presumed the Council will always be 

 composed of men the likeliest to forward the objects of the Society, I 

 think experience alone will enable it to compass its great and complicated 



