LINNEAN SOCIETY OF LONDON. 



XXXUl 



matured his plans for extending a system which would strike at 

 the root of agricultural slavery, and for which he had been for ten 

 years struggling with but very slender success : this was the 

 allotment system, which from the time of his first proposing it, 

 had met with the fiercest and best organized opposition. To pro- 

 driving up to the house to exchange congratulations with the host and hostess. 

 The servants have brought out their surprises. Upon the booth is seen a tri- 

 umphant display of loyalty, — ' God save the Queen,' in daisies of emblematic 

 white upon a laurel background. Over the door is a monster vegetarian, the 

 counterfeit presentment of an agriculturist, spade and fork in hand, built up of 

 laurel leaves, be-buttoned with daisies, and with a face rudely made out of 

 jocund roses. Lastly a richly laurelled throne is brought out, something be- 

 tween a sentry-box and a pulpit, and into this the Rector-Professor mounts to 

 distribute the prizes. The giving of each prize is accompanied with praises and 

 criticism, according as either is needed. The fuchsias are pronounced to be 

 excellent, the pinks not so good. 1 You must improve their cultivation,' said the 

 Professor, ' by the next show. In having such jagged edges they look too much 

 like cloves. They look as if they had been jumping through the brambles and had 

 torn their petticoats.' The failing characteristic was understood in a moment. 

 The wild-flower gatherers now stand round to receive their prizes, and to be 

 asked questions. It was announced that one little girl had added twelve new 

 species to the flora of Hitcham during the past year, — twelve, not brought hap- 

 hazard with a heap of others, but detected separately in the field as not being in 

 the printed catalogue, and not hitherto known to the University Professor of 

 Botany as being inhabitants of his parish. Plants from the West of England, 

 not before seen by the little botanists, were then shown to them, and the class, 

 family, and genus were told without hesitation ; and when asked to what plant 

 known to them they were related, the allied local species was named, though 

 differing in general aspect. The plant was determined alone by its scientific 

 characters. The prizes were awarded, and it did one's heart good to see the 

 little bob curtsy and intelligent simper that accompanied it. A present of bo- 

 tanical boxes was promised to be given on the morrow. The banquet of tea and 

 cake for the three hundred horticulturists who had taken penny tickets, and a 

 hymn of loyalty and grateful interchange of huzzas between master and servants, 

 concluded the proceedings. The parting adieu is still tinkling gently in our 

 ear. 



" But a yet more interesting sight awaited us. On the morrow we visited 

 the parish dame-school. The forms were crowded with children, the girls neat 

 and intelligent, the boys somewhat quaintly clad and drowsy. As the Professor 

 appeared at the door, also a little quaint, in his straw hat, with a rough hoe for 

 a walking-stick, the pinafored botanists, who seemed to congregate by instinct, 

 stood up to receive him. At one end of the room was a cupboard, overlooked by 

 a print of Joseph cast by his brethren into the pit, containing the parish herbarium. 

 It consisted of dried specimens of the flora of Hitcham, neatly arranged and named, 

 and outside on a board hung the printed catalogue of reference. Opposite to it 

 was a large ABC table and some views of the Crystal Palace. At the other 

 end of the room was the vivarium or collection of living specimens. Each plant 



LINN. SOC. — YOL. YI. C 



