THE R.H.S. BANQUET TO FOREIGN HORTICULTURISTS. ciii 



Highness, my Lords and Gentlemen, — The toast which I have the 

 honour to propose is one which lends itself to the making of a great 

 many points, but you need not be afraid that I shall labour it at any 

 great length. Unfortunately for me, but fortunately for you, I have 

 a very bad throat, so that I propose to say only a very few words. I 

 think all those who have seen the Exhibition will agree that since the 

 world began — ^^1 may say since Adam first learnt about the cultivation of 

 apple trees — ^there has been nothing so interesting and beautiful as this 

 Exhibition. The greatest credit is due to the organizers of the Exhibi- 

 tion, to the directors, and to the management, especially, I think, to 

 Mr. Gumey Fowler, whose name I have the pleasure of coupling 

 with this toast. My terms of reference expressly desire me to wish 

 success to this Exhibition. That is a work of supererogation where 

 success has already been achieved in so signal a manner as at Chelsea 

 this year. That the Exhibition may be a success financially, as it is 

 already in every other respect, is the desire of us all. I have the 

 honour to propose success to the Eoyal International Horticultural 

 Exhibition — a success it deserves in the very fullest measure. 



Mr. J. GuENEY Fowler, chairman of the directors, was to have 

 responded, but owing to his heavy labours at the Exhibition he asked 

 Sir Harry Veitch, V.M.H., to do so for him. Having explained 

 this. Sir Harry proceeded: I suppose there is no one, except those 

 acting on the Board of Directors, who knows what the work of this 

 Exhibition has been. It is only we who have been able to assist Mr. 

 Gurney Fowler in his arduous task who^ can tell what real hard work 

 that gentleman has had to perform. Early and late for weeks Mr. 

 Gurney Fowler has toiled at his self-imposed labours. I hope they 

 are now coming to an end, but there will remain the very pleasurable 

 part of looking back on their successful issue ; and I hope all who have 

 come from overseas have enjoyed their visit to this country. Speaking 

 for the Executive of this great Exhibition, I must say that we have 

 been most happy in the gentlemen who have helped us. We have 

 been most fortunate in having the Duke of Portland, K.O., for our 

 President. Then, again, we have had a perfect Chairman of Jury in 

 Mr. Leopold de Eothschild, C.V.O. We have an excellent Managing 

 Director in our friend Mr. Edward White, who, I am glad to be 

 able to say, is with us this evening; and there is one name I must 

 not forget — a man who has done spade work for our Exhibition — 

 our good friend Mr. S. T. Wright, of Wisley, who, when diffi- 

 culties have arisen, has invariably known how to overcome them. In 

 the name of the directors I desire to tender my hearty thanks to 

 the President and Council of the E.H.S. for enabling us to welcome 

 so many of our foreign friends here to-night, and to express the Hope 

 that they have enjoyed themselves since they came to our poor climate, 

 I and also the hope that it is not the last time we shall have the pleasure 

 j of receiving them in this Hall. It is quite true that our last Inter- 

 I national Exhibition was held forty-six years ago. I cannot, of course, 

 venture to say when the next will be held. I cannot hope that I shall 



