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JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



the management of horticultural societies — namely, the establish- 

 ment of a reserve fund. And lest it should be thought from the 

 foregoing observations that it is assumed that all gardeners are 

 averse to this (as they assuredly are not), it is pleasurable to be 

 able to here embody the opinions of one who has won many 

 prizes, and whose connection with a successful show, of which 

 he was for some years the able Secretary, entitles him to be 

 listened to with respect. Mr. G. W. Cummins writes : — 



I think, when you are preparing your paper for the E.H.S. on " Exhibi- 

 tions and Schedules," it would be a good thing were you to call attention to 

 the necessity for every horticultural society to build up a reserve fund. We 

 all know that many societies have to depend to a great extent on the amount 

 of the money taken at the gate, and a " wet " show day often means ruin to 

 a society which has no fund to fall back upon. I think a reserve fund 

 should at least be equal to the amount of money offered in prizes every year. 

 It must be disheartening to a successful competitor to be told after a show 

 that his or her prize money cannot be paid in full because the funds of the 

 society will not allow it. This has been done, to my knowledge, more than 

 once, and has resulted in some of the best supporters losing confidence and 

 leaving the society. Mr. Sherwood, who is treasurer of the Streatham and 

 Brixton Horticultural Society, in speaking at the annual dinner of that 

 society recently, said how much he desired to see a reserve fund established 

 there, and generously offered to give a handsome donation towards it. 



Mr. Sherwood is a gentleman of great business capacity, 

 in full sympathy with all efforts that are made for the expan- 

 sion of horticulture. His convictions on the subject ought to 

 have much weight, and it is hoped that the society in question 

 will make strenuous efforts to at least double the amount of his 

 donation, whatever it may be, at the earliest possible moment, 

 even if it involve a temporary reduction in prize money. The 

 society will be placed on a more permanent basis, the horti- 

 culture of the district continuously advanced, and even exhibitors 

 will be gainers in the end. Obviously what applies to this 

 society applies to others. Still, as no teaching is so cogent 

 as that of experience, an example may be given of a southern 

 provincial show which has been placed on a firm basis, namely, 

 that of the Carshalton district society in Surrey. Mr. A. H. 

 Smee is the Chairman of the committee of this society, and from 

 his long experience as a director of one of the leading insurance 

 companies, no one knows better than he the wisdom of making 

 provision for the future. 



The reserve fund which he started with a donation a few years 

 ago has, under prudent management, steadily increased, and now 

 the prize money for a forthcoming show is assured, no matter 



