X INTEODUCTION. 



laudable and interesting, when conducted in the right spirit, 

 and with due regard to the rules and regulations imposed by 

 all well-ordered societies. Sometimes these laws are set aside 

 by individuals, who do not hesitate to acquire by illegitimate 

 means any article of which they may be in want ; but there 

 can be no real satisfaction to the mind of any one gaining 

 a prize with what is not his own hund fide production, and the 

 spirit which prompts this dishonourable practice should be 

 combated by all competitors. 



It is to be regretted that so few professional gardeners avail 

 themselves of the opportunities for distinction in the art of 

 Horticulture provided for them by the numerous and influential 

 societies throughout the country. JMany reasons may be given 

 for this lack of zeal and interest in such competitions. The 

 proprietor may not approve of exhibiting, and in that case 

 the gardener' has no choice in the matter. But in a large 

 number of non-competing gai'dens things might be different 

 if it were generally known how beneficial a reasonable amount 

 of successful competition is to all concerned, especially in the 

 now numerous class of gardens where the surplus produce has 

 to be disposed of in the market. Apart, altogether, from the 

 general effects of the extra attention, application of skill, and 

 the unsparing energy in manual labour, at all hours, which 

 successful competition entails, there is a decided increase in 

 the value of the produce, which is well illustrated by the fol- 

 lowing incident of actual experience. A few years ago two 

 places were sending equally good grapes to the same fruit 

 merchant, but the money returned to the one was about double 

 that given to the other. An explanation was demanded, and. 

 while admitting that the grapes were equally good, the dealer 

 said the grapes from the one place had got a name in the 

 town, and brought a high price, which was explained by suc- 

 cessful competition in the one case and non-competition in the 

 other. A common objection raised to growing fruit for com- 

 petition is that the plants are under-cropped. This may occur 

 through ignorance or inexperience in reducing the crop' to less 

 than what the plant is well able to mature. It .should be 

 clearly understood, however, that there is no loss in o-rowincr 



