On a Horticultural Society in the Highlands. 3 1 



Art. XI. Remarks on the Establishment of a Horticultural 

 Society in the Highlands of Scotland. By Mr. John Came- 

 ron, Gardener, Champion Hill, Camberwell. 



THe Gardener's Magazine is one of those useful modern 

 publications which every lover of gardening should support, 

 as it conveys information even to our antipodes. It is true, 

 horticulture has of late years improved to a wonderful height 

 in Great Britain ; but while we are lending our aid to Ireland 

 in planting mulberry trees and providing silk-worms to that 

 country, we are totally forgetting that part of Great Britain 

 called the Highlands of Scotland, namely, Argyle and the 

 western parts of Inverness-shire, in regard to which districts 

 I shall make a few suggestions for public information through 

 the medium of your Magazine. 



All the southern counties of Great Britain have provincial 

 horticultural societies, but in the West Highlands there are 

 no such institutions of a public nature. I admit, that land- 

 holders are not so numerous of late years in these northern 

 counties, and gentlemen's seats are, therefore, more divided 

 from each other; and, consequently, the number of gardens 

 considerably reduced. Now I would propose, that a Horti- 

 cultural society should be formed in every county, having ex- 

 perimental grounds centrically situated to landholders. This 

 would prove an important benefit, and, properly supported, 

 such an institution would increase in usefulness. As it would 

 encourage industry among the tenantry, it would also greatly 

 add to the improvement of landed property generally. Many 

 rare alpine plants would be found among the craggy moun- 

 tains that might be readily exchanged for plants of other 

 countries. The carriage or transportation of these to and 

 fro would not be expensive, as land conveyance would seldom 

 be resorted to of necessity, and water carriage, by the aid of 

 steam, being now so generally in use, the freight would be 

 trifling. If proper encouragement be given towards the 

 management of such institutions, as a natural consequence 

 they will strive to vie with each other in obtaining a good 

 name. These institutions might be incorporated with agri- 

 cultural societies, and I hope the truly patriotic chieftains 

 will immediately set about the establishment of such among 

 their cottagers and crofters. Prizes might be held out to 

 those who rendered themselves most useful in the support of 

 the establishment by their discovery of plants, &c. &c. and 

 their most successful treatment. These prizes I would propose 



