December 11, 18' 6. 



JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



507 



St. James's Hall, and subsequently in such places, as Hereford, 

 Manchester, Birmingham, Exeter, &c, as might be arranged, 

 the place selected, of course, providing a guarantee fund to meet 

 necessary expenses. 



The Chaibman now asked that a proposition be made, when 



Mr. George Paul proposed that the Society's first Show 

 should be held in London, which was seconded by Mr. Baker, 

 who observed, however, that a Show Bhould be held in London 

 every year. 



Rev. J. B. M. Camm thereupon proposed that one Show be held 

 in London every year, and that it be held at St. James' Hall or 

 Willis's Rooms in June — ("Oh! Oh !" from the northerners.) 

 Mr. Camm observed that country shows generally betray failure 

 more or lesB in some form, and instanced Hereford, where the 

 largest balance ever forthcoming was id. [laughter.] He pro- 

 posed, therefore, one splendid Show in London every year, 

 with large prizes. 



Mr. Bulmer was in favour of the Shows beiDg itinerant. 



Mr. Killick, Maidstone, suggested the holding of one Show 

 in London, and giving aid also to one country show, to which 

 Mr. Baker agreed. 



Mr. G. Paul was also in favour of giving assistance at once to 

 some local shows, so as to spread the influence of the Society as 

 widely as possible. He would say, Let the London Show be 

 grand, but assist also the affiliated societies. 



Mr. Turner said his policy was to do one thing at a time, 

 and do it well. 



Mr. Dombrain thought it would he wise to decide on having 

 the first show in London, and leave the question of succeeding 

 years, and afterwards be guided by such experience as would be 

 gained. This view of the question was supported by Mr. Turner 

 and Mr. Cant, and a resolution to that effeot waB cordially 

 agreed to. 



Considerable discussion took place as to the best site for the 

 Show, the Agricultural Hall, Regent's Park, Willis's Rooms, and 

 St. JameB' Hall being named, and eventually St. James' Hall 

 was decided on, to be secured for July 1st or June 28th. The 

 Chairman here created eome amusement by producing a bill in 

 which in gigantic red letters the National Rose Show would be 

 held in the St. James' Hall on July 1st, an old bill of the Show 

 of 1858, which Mr. Camm proposed should be photographed. 



The next subject, that of members' subscriptions, gave riBe to 

 much earnest disousBion. 



The Chairman suggested that these should not be large, but 

 that they shtmld rather be fixed as low as possible, in order to 

 secure a large number of members, leaving the question of 

 donations open as a privilege for those who were generously 

 disposed to aid the Society in that mode of honouring them- 

 selves. The Committee of the Horticultural Club, it was here 

 mentioned, would afford room for the Bose Society to transact 

 their business, an intimation which was muoh appreciated. 



Mr. Georoe Paul, speaking on the question of subscriptions, 

 thought that an important objeot to be borne in mind was to 

 gain the affiliation of all local societies and Bose clubs, and to 

 make provision for the embodiment of suoh clubs on the pay- 

 ment of a subscription to be determined on. 



Mr. Camm thought that nurserymen should pay a great deal 

 more than amateurs ; for instance, if he and some of Mb friends 

 (the small amateurs) were to pay a guinea, his other friends (the 

 great nurserymen) should pay five guineas. The nurserymen 

 would be the principal gainerB if the Society became prosperous, 

 and the greatest loBers if it collapsed. 



The Chairman observed that it was true that the nursery- 

 men might suffer in pooket if the Society were to fail, but it was 

 equally certain that the amateurs would suffer in mind. To 

 prevent suffering in any form, 



Mr. Curtis, Chatteris, proposed an annual subscription of 10s. 

 as being a reasonable Bum for anyone to pay, and he thought 

 that by fixing it thus moderate the large number who would 

 become members would produce a sufficient income for the 

 purposes of the Society. This was seconded by Mr. Cranston. 



Mr. Baker considered a 10s. subscription far too small, and 

 especially for the first year. 



Mr. Camm was of the same opinion, and reminded the meeting 

 that in the case of local societies, such as Exeter and Hereford, 

 the annual subscription was a guinea a-year. 



The Chairman thought they must remember that there were 

 very many earnest and able cultivators of the Rose who would 

 feel it a privilege to become members of the Sooiety, yet who 

 would be unable to do so if the subscription was large. He 

 would not willingly shut out any true rosarian, however humble 

 he might be. 



Mr. Cant, as a nurseryman, then proposed that all of his craft 

 should pay five guineas each as a start, and as showing a way of 

 being generous to small growers ; but 



Mr. Dombrain thought that to agree on a resolution of that kind 

 would be too binding on those who were absent, and he muoh 

 preferred a simple contribution of 10s., and hoped for donations 

 being offered of various amounts which would be sufficient to 

 give a substantial Btart to the Society. 



Mr. Bulmer found in hiB experience in soliciting Bupport for 

 the Society with which he was connected that he obtained much 

 more money by applying for sums of 10s. than He did by asking 

 for guineas. His policy, therefore, had been to base his expec- 

 tations on a large number of email sums rather than on a few 

 gifts of greater separate amounts. After this discussion Mr. 

 Curtis's proposition was put in the form of a resolution, and was 

 carried with scarcely a dissenting voice. 



The Chairman proposed that a paper should be passed round 

 for names of subscribers, each gentleman to have the privilege 

 of adding to his name whatever sum he chose to offer as a dona- 

 tion. (During the entering of names the Hon. and Bev. J. T. 

 Boscawen mentioned his gift of two ten-guinea silver cups, to 

 be offered for Tea Boses at Bath ; and Mr. Cator also spoke of 

 the determination of the west to make the Bath Show success- 

 ful). On the list being returned to the Chairman he made the 

 gratifying announcement that the donations offered amounted 

 to nearly ,£80, a result which was received with much cheering. 



Mr. Bulmer now had the pleasure of announcing that Mr. 

 Horace Mayor, Winohmore Hill, had consented to act aB joint 

 Secretary with Mr. Dombrain ; on which the Chairman observed 

 tbat all who had had a taste of being secretary would be heartily 

 satisfied that they themselves were not appointed, and that 

 these gentlemen were not only willing but competent for the 

 duties of the office. 



Mr. Cant remarked that all knew Mr. Dombrain and admitted 

 his qualifications ; but Mr. Mayor, he felt, was a stranger to 

 many, and he thought the meeting would like to hear whether 

 he was a practical Rose grower as well as a willing worker on 

 behalf of the Society. To which Mr. Dombrain replied that 

 Mr. Mayor waB a really earnest and able rosarian, and he should 

 feel him on that and other grounds as being a valuable coadjutor. 

 Mr. Mayor resided in the same locality as himself, and on that 

 account also his appointment wonld be convenient. The ap- 

 pointment of Mr. Dombrain and Mr. Mayor as joint Secretaries 

 was then agreed upon with unanimity. 



The Chairman remarked that the next question requiring to 

 be settled was the election of a Committee, and he was inclined 

 to suggest that the whole of the gentlemen present might well 

 be enrolled as a Committee of the National Rose Society. The 

 number might be large, but it would at the leaBt appear in- 

 vidious to make exceptions when all alike were earnest and able 

 to assist in the management of the Society. To this suggestion 

 there were sundry replies of " too large," whereupon 



Dr. Hogg thought it well to remember that if the numbers 

 there assembled were great they not only represented a National 

 Society, but that the members were necessarily scattered over 

 a wide area, and without a large committee it would be difficult 

 at times to get a strong body together in London for the trans- 

 action of business. General asuent was given to this view of 

 the question, and 



Mr. Camm created no small hilarity on remarking that he 

 hoped they would all be appointed, because that would afford 

 him an excuse for coming to London. He should often like to 

 be there, but had a difficulty in finding a plea on which his 

 presence was required, but circumstances were now taking a 

 favourable turn. 



On the proposition of Mr. Boscawen, seoonded by Mr. Curtis, 

 it was resolved that the whole of the members present should 

 form the Committee of the Society. 



A discussion next ensued on the nature of the prizes to be 

 offered by the Society, but without, however, arriving at any 

 definite conclusion beyond that it was a matter which the Com- 

 mittee would be better able to decide upon when more experience 

 had been gained and a further accretion of members had been 

 enrolled. 



The question of two-days shows was then introduced, and 

 many spoke in no uncertain sound against their encouragement 

 and continuance. 



The Chairman thought they were not likely to be adopted, 

 but was not sure that it would be worth while passing a resolu- 

 tion on the matter when a strong expression of opinion was 

 likely to anBwer their puipose. His friend Mr. Pochin, whose 

 opinion was entitled to great weight, was doubtful as to the 

 propriety of denouncing tbem on account of the limited nature 

 of the Ros'a season, and the loss which might follow in some 

 cases were they not permitted; be thought the matter would 

 find itB own level. Mr. Gould had already expressed his opinion 

 in the Journal of Horticulture againBt the continuance of two- 

 days Bhows, and still adhered to the opinions therein expressed ; 

 and Mr. ElliBon had stated in a letter that to visit a Rose show 

 on its second day was about as melancholy a taBk as visiting the 

 corpse of a departed friend. After a considerable interchange of 

 opinion, 



Mr. Camm proposed that the meeting do pledge itself against 

 two-days Bhows, as being annoying and expensive to exhibitors 

 and insulting to the Rose. 



Mr. Cant agreed with much that had been said by Mr. Camm, 

 but could hardly pledge himself for fear of causing Iobb to others. 

 He would discourage, but not formally refuse. 



