







t 



m 

 M 



mat. 



r M 



U 



i ^ 

 1 



> -"S^^ HORTICULTUEAL SOCIETY. 



the need there was of some stimulus to Horticulture, he made 

 the following observations : — 



" Societies for the improvement of domestic animals, and of 

 Agriculture in all its branches, have been estabhshed with success 

 in almost every district of the British Empu-e. Horticulture 

 alone appears to have been neglected, and left to the common 

 gardener, who generally pursues the duU routine of his predecessor ; 

 and, if he deviates from it, rarely possesses a sufficient share of 

 science and information to enable him to deviate with success. 



" In training waU-trees there is much in the modern practice 

 which appears defective and irrational : no attention whatever is 

 paid to the form which the species or variety naturaUy assumes, 

 and be its growth upright or pendent, it is constrained to take 

 precisely the same form on the wall. 



" The construction of forcing houses appears also to bo gene- 

 rally very defective, and two are rarely constmctecl alike, though 

 intended for the same purposes ; probably not a single building 

 of this kind has yet been erected, in which the greatest possible 

 quantity of space has been obtained, and of light and heat 

 admitted, propoi-tionate to the capital expended. It may even 

 be questioned whether a single hot-bed has ever been made in 

 the most advantageous form ; and the proper api^lication of 

 glass, where artificial heat is not employed, is certainly very iU 

 understood." 



With reference to the proceedings of the gentlemen who 

 founded the Society, he added : — 



" In the execution of their plan, the Committee feel that the 



Society has many difficulties to encounter, and, they fear, some 



prejudices to contend with ; but they have long been convinced, 

 r 



t! 



ii 



yy 

 o 



Wm 

 K9 



^^^^ 



m 

 m 













