CONFERENCE OF SOCIETIES AFFILIATED WITH R.H.S. clxxxix 



gardeners and others who would help if they knew where their services 

 could be best utilized. 



Is it not possible, with the help of the R.H.S. and its Affiliated 

 Societies, to form an organization so that the work of beautifying 

 our towns, and our townspeople, could receive a great impetus ? We 

 suggest the formation of a small committee to thoroughly consider 

 the question. A start might be made with London, and gradually 

 the enterprise could be extended throughout the length and breadth 

 of the country. In Walworth alone there are still several thousands of 

 forecourts lying uncultivated, and there are many back yards which 

 could be turned into fertile and beautiful spots. Every additional 

 tree and plant grown in our city areas means a corresponding increase 

 of the purity of the air. A big addition to our food supplies could 

 also be obtained. Capital exhibits of vegetables have been staged 

 at our Shows this year. 



If the R.H.S. would take up this work it would mean that the 

 trade would benefit, the profession of horticulture would be con- 

 siderably uplifted, and the benefit to the community cannot be 

 estimated. 



The interest on the part of the people is enormous ; they do but 

 await the opportunity and the organization. 



The Chairman, replying to Mr. Harding, said that gardening of such 

 a character abroad was much more advanced than it was here in London 

 and in other cities of Great Britain. He promised to introduce the 

 matter to the Council with a view of ascertaining what constructive 

 steps could be taken. 



N.B. — This matter was considered by the Council of the R.H.S. 

 at its Meeting on Tuesday, October 12, when a Sub-Committee was 

 appointed to consider and report on the possibilities of organizing Town 

 Gardening. 



4. The Chairman then spoke on the economical use of land, especially 

 garden land, and the utilization of all possible vacant plots. He said : 

 I am sorry to have to speak so frequently this afternoon, but a task 

 has been imposed upon me — a very important task it is — of addressing 

 you on a subject which is of great importance, that of Increasing the 

 Food Supply. You will probably have read that the Government has 

 publicly issued an appeal to the farmer to grow more wheat, but the 

 cottager and allotment-holder should also do his or her utmost to 

 increase food production. 



The day before war broke out, the Secretary of the R.H.S. and 

 I considered that the war might last a long time, and it was 

 obviously a matter of vast importance to increase immediately 

 the food supply in the country. So we drafted a letter to the 

 press, which was published widely in London and in the Provinces. 

 We followed that up by forming a committee at Vincent Square 

 to deal with correspondence and matters arising out of this letter, 

 and we issued many thousands of pamphlets on the subject. We 



