342 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ May 12, 1863. 



occasioning a serious reduction in the stock, more especially 

 after such a mild open winter as the one just gone. 



In consequence of the extreme mildness of the paBt winter 

 our stock of this favourite plant is unusually fine this year ; the 

 strongest plants are, at the present time, literally covered with 

 a profusion of their beautiful pale lilac flowers. — J. Dtjuij, 

 Harrock Sail Gardens, Wigan. 



GAEDENEES' SOCIETY. 



The able communication of " G. A." on the formation of a 

 Gardener's Company, or general society for the mutual improve- 

 ment and benefit of gardeners as a body, has, doubtless, met 

 with general approval, for there can be no real objection to the 

 formation of such a society, nor can there be any doubt as to 

 its feasibility. It must also be admitted, that the project is one 

 calculated to prove greatly advantageous both to the profession 

 and the members of it. Granted this much, I trust the subject 

 will not be allowed easily to drop, and that the pages of The 

 Jot/bnal of Horticulttjee will be open to a free discussion 

 on all matters relating thereto. This I have no doubt will be 

 the case, as the Editors have shown themselves favourable to 

 the scheme. Nothing is more likely to elucidate the matter than 

 a full discussion, for although the main scheme will most likely 

 be generally approved, there are matters of detail which must 

 and will cause some little contention before anything like an 

 amicable arrangement can be arrived at. 



Eor my own part I consider that any restrictions with regard 

 to the exclusion of any particular class ought to be avoided 

 rather than otherwise ; for if a body of men are to act in concert 

 for the benefit of all parties concerned, the main object ought to 

 have precedence over all others, and the farther removed any 

 mere distinction of class or grade is from the one grand object, 

 the less consideration should it receive at the hands of those 

 who have to frame the rules and regulations of the Society. Eor 

 instance : A man may conform to all the rules laid down for ad- 

 mission as a professional gardener, and yet be one in name and 

 appearance, more than from any real qualification he possesses 

 for filling such a position beyond a good personal address, which 

 is often a passport into situations which the possessor is in no 

 way qualified to fill. He may be a successful exhibitor, not 

 because he is a skilful cultivator, but because his subordinates 

 are (for instances are not wanting where the head gardener has 

 obtained credit for what he is no way entitled to, his right-hand 

 man being the real manager, without whom the head gardener 

 could do nothing), in fact, from his position he is admitted as a 

 first-class member, while a utilitarian who has, probably, studied 

 hard and grounded himself in the general science of gardening, is 

 still a utilitarian : consequently he must be debarred from such , 

 privileges as fall to those of a more elevated position in the 

 gardening world. 



I Bimply put this in order to show that a man's position is no 

 real guide as to his abilities or acquirements, and where the re- 

 strictions are too severe, there is a possibility of the right man 

 being excluded from the right place. 



If a society is expected to be successful, it ought to be con- 

 structed on the most liberal principles, however unpleasanlly it 

 may jar against the feelings of an educated class that others of 

 an inferior grade are to be admitted on equal or near.'y equal 

 terms. Still to a certain extent it ought to be borne with. 

 Some distinctions are admissible, and, perhaps, advisable; but 

 they ought to be such as are easily surmounted ; for if the society 

 i3 to benefit all cksses of gardeners, a large body of tbem, 

 probably the most numerous, will scarcely deem it a favour to 

 be admitted on terms that will place their so-called inferior 

 position ever before tbem. 



Such a Company as that referred to will, I trust, eventually 

 be formed ; and I still further hope, that the rules and regula- 

 tions will be framed more with a view to benefit and satisfy all 

 classes of a profession in itself both liberal and progressive, than 

 with any view to show up the various grades and distinctions 

 of its members and votaries. If this is done, the entrance fee 

 and the subscriptions may be high or even extravagant, but they 

 will be paid more cheerfully than if the subscriptions were low, 

 and the great body of members had no vote and scarcely a 

 hearing, but must submit to the dictates of the favoured few, who 

 in consequence of paying higher subscriptions would retain the 

 government of the whole affair. 



I am at a loss to understand why " G. A." would require the 

 subscription of employers to be so much higher than that of 



others. Doubtless, the majority of them would be willing to 

 subscribe as he intimates ; but the question might be asked, 

 What benefit are employers likely to derive in proportion to the 

 amount of their subscriptions ? True, there would be the in- 

 creased facility for obtaining a competent gardener when one is 

 required ; but is this likely to occur so often as to justify the 

 amount ? Employers I believe would enter into the project 

 willingly, not on account of the benefit derivable from it, but 

 for the same reason that they form horticultural societies — that 

 is, from an interest in the science and practice of horticulture. 



Should employers take up the matter and thus give an impetus 

 .to the formation of a Company it would not otherwise receive, 

 this would lay the foundation ; and with the amount of entry- 

 fees and subscriptions, as " G. A." sanguinely explains, the 

 Society would be fixed on a popular because solvent basis. But 

 then in whose hands should the government of the Society be 

 retained ? Certainly not entirely in the hands of employers or 

 any other class. This, perhaps, is the most delicate part of the 

 affair ; for although every division Bhould be fairly and equally 

 represented, the question is, how is this to be done ? I should 

 be inclined to recommend that the subscriptions of all classes of 

 members be pretty nearly equalised, that all should be allowed 

 to vote freely at the election of officers, &c, and that the offices 

 be open to all classes where men are likely to be found of com- 

 petent ability to fill them, although it is evident that such are 

 most likely to be found among the educated. Whether there are 

 many in the gardening fraternity who are of my way of thinking 

 in this matter I do not know ; I merely give expression to my 

 views, which are opposed to framing a society's rules with one 

 eye directed to caste and the other to the pocket. 



However inappropriate it may appear to discuss the laws of a 

 society yet unborn, it is far from being without a purpose, for 

 in this way some useful hints are likely to appear that may be 

 of service to those who may have the framing of them at some 

 future time. But then before this takes place it must be known 

 how far the gardening world would take up the matter in right 

 good earnest, so that were a body of men to form a nucleus 

 they might know what support to expect. Could not every 

 reader of The Joubnal 02 Hoeticuxtttbe who is favourable to 

 the formation of a Company, send his name and that of as many of 

 his friends as are also favourable, and who are willing to be enrolled 

 as members, to the Editors, who, I doubt not, would kindly 

 keep an account of the number, and, perhaps, make it public, bo 

 that we may all know how far the proposal of " G. A," is likely 

 to meet with that favour it deserves ? — E. Chiitt. 



MES. GAINES' PLANT SALE, STTEEEY LANE, 

 BATTEESEA. 



On Monday, April 27th and three following days, the whole 

 of the stock of plants belonging to this once-celebrated nursery, 

 were disposed of by auction. 



The sale on the whole brought very satisfactory,y*ices, and 

 was numerously attended by persons far and ".car. Messrs. 

 E. & A. Dickson & Sons, Nurserymen, Chester, purchased some 

 of the largest specimen Azaleas, which realised five guineas each. 

 Miss Macpherson Grant, of Craigellachie, was also a buyer of 

 specimen Azaleas and paid high prices. Amongst other large 

 buyers were Mr. Bennett, gardener to G. S. Eoljambe, Esq., 

 Worksop ; Mr. Pullenger, gardener to — Bust, Esq., Mitcham, 

 who purchased the Rhododendron Aureum, for five guineas, so 

 many times exhibited by the late Mr. Gaines ; also, many other 

 valuable lots. A gentleman from Newcastle was also a large 

 buyer. Thus it will be seen the lots are well scattered about 

 the country. 



It is with feelings of regret that we should have to record 

 the last of this celebrated nursery. Neither would it be just 

 to let it pass away without a remark. For many years this 

 nursery in the cultivation of florists' flowers stood almost un- 

 rivalled. The Auricula, Pansy, Dahlia, Calceolaria, and Gera- 

 nium have each been cultivated there to the highest degree of 

 perfection, and no person in the flower market ever had more 

 respect shown her than the late Mrs. Nancy Gaines, who for a 

 period of exactly fifty years was attendant at Covent Garden 

 Market, and whose name for perseverance and uprightness will 

 be remembered for many years yet to come. The same reBpect 

 is due to Mrs. Gaines the present occupier of the nursery, who 

 may be termed a model obliging woman of business. 



Of late the nursery has been used for marketing plants. The 



