ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF AFFILIATED SOCIETIES. cciii 



REPORT ON THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF AFFILIATED 

 SOCIETIES AND SOCIETIES IN UNION. 



October 12, 1909. 



The Annual Conference of Affiliated Societies was held on October 12 at 

 the Royal Horticultural Hall, H. B. May, Esq., a Member of the Council, 

 in the Chair. 



The results of the discussions upon the various items of the agenda 

 were as follows : — 



The Radlett, Aldenham, &c, Society (represented by Dr. Webb, 

 Mr. Nash, and Mr. Stevens) suggested that affiliated societies should 

 organize meetings at a convenient centre in their respective counties, 

 prior to the Annual Conferences, to consider and formulate subjects for 

 discussion thereat. It was thought much good would follow united 

 meetings of societies at one central town in their respective counties, for 

 such purposes as, for example, to arrange subjects for discussion at 

 the Conferences, to arrange united or perhaps county shows, and for 

 mutual help and suggestion in practical organization. It was further 

 suggested that the R.H.S. should arrange these central meetings and 

 county shows. 



Mr. May pointed out that it was much easier for the daughter 

 societies themselves to arrange such meetings, as they best knew their 

 most convenient centres, and reference to the Horticultural Directory 

 would indicate their neighbouring societies. As regards county shows, 

 here again the initiative must rest with the local societies, who should 

 first ascertain what financial and other support would be forthcoming, 

 and then if the Council of the R.H.S. was approached with this in- 

 formation, the proposal would be of a more practical nature. Societies 

 must not expect the R.H.S. to do everything ; it is prepared to give all 

 reasonable assistance, but the initiative of any provincial show must 

 come from the county or other leading society of the locality. 



St. Barnabas, Sutton, &c, Society (represented by Mr. Churcher, 

 Mr. F. D. Levett, and Mr. P. C. H. Jay) proposed handicapping in 

 Horticultural Competitions. This subject, discussed at the Conference of 

 1908, was again negatived, the opinion being that it was quite impracticable 

 to restrict an exhibitor to a plot of land of given dimensions for the 

 raising of any particular plants. 



The Redhill, Reigate, &c, Association (represented by Mr. W. P. 

 Bound, Mr. F. Herbert, and Mr. W. Rose) asked if the R. H. S. could 

 obtain books for daughter societies at cheap rates. The Chairman 

 explained that this help was impossible, as the Society had not privileged 

 terms even for its own library, but could only buy in the open market. 



The Croydon Horticultural M.I. Society (represented by Mr. Gregory, 

 Mr. Mills, and Mr. Boshier) asked for suggestions to assist them in 

 making their meetings more attractive to young men. 



It was stated that past efforts, such as the offer of prizes for essays, 

 had failed. The discussion showed the difficulty to be one generally 

 experienced. Mr. Geo. Gordon, V.M.H., suggested that they would make 



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