178 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



in the so-called education of the people in recent years by our 

 system of technical instruction and other advanced methods of 

 modern political economy are doubtless commendable, but even 

 with these improved conditions there is yet a lamentable lack of 

 that better teaching, that higher education, in the particular 

 direction to which I have endeavoured to draw your thoughts., 

 and one has only to gain access to the home of an ordinary 

 working-man, or to become sufficiently friendly to get near him 

 at his dinner-time, to see upon what sorry stuff he has to bear 

 the burden and heat of a labour day. 



I think that the Eoyal Horticultural Society, a society which, 

 has done such noble work, and which, with the increased zeal 

 and enthusiasm of the later years, is so actively promoting fruit 

 growing as an important industry, will add still greener laurels 

 to its wreath, if it will help the work of existing organisations- 

 bent upon the improvement of the economic aspect of the condi- 

 tion of the people by advocating methods of instruction in the 

 arts of cookery — no, indeed, but in the Art of Life — by pointing 

 out that whilst the Society is engaged in the fair field of nature, 

 and in the gay gardens of the horticultural world, it estimates — and 

 estimates rightly — that the production of all that is possible and 

 beautiful from the realm of nature is, after all, but means to an end.. 

 If we overlook the importance, nay, the sacredness, of the end, our 

 advocacy of means and method is of little avail. On the one 

 hand, the claims that we as a Society advocate tend to the 

 employment of labour in healthy occupation ; on the other, the 

 energies of labour so happily and wisely directed, and so bene- 

 ficently assisted, have for the ultimate end the healthier, hap- 

 pier, brighter life of the peoples of the earth, and in this noble 

 crusade we can well inscribe upon our banners " Health, con- 

 tentment, and peace." 



All this opens up the way to a widely extended programme. 

 It takes us through the open country, where the gardens and the 

 orchards arc responsive to the activity and care bestowed upon 

 them. We advise, suggest, and direct as to what may best be 

 done, and how to do it. We examine, compare, select, and 

 bestow the mark of praise upon all that seems to us best ; but it 

 would be well if we found it our pleasure, or our duty, or both, 

 to devise means and methods to help the producer to get over 

 difficulties which meet him sternly in the face— difficulties of 



