Cvi PEOCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



realize to the fullest extent the grandeur, the power, and the influence 

 of that Empire. Those who come from the Dominions beyond the seas 

 do not regard the British Empire as limited to the United Kingdom of 

 Great Britain and Ireland; that is regarded as the heart of the Empire, 

 while its arms and limbs spread themselves over the world. Those 

 who come from the Dominions beyond the seas are as much Britons and 

 as proud of the Empire as are they who live within its heart. In their 

 veins runs the same blood, while their aspirations are the same. To 

 those overseas has been allotted the task of subduing nature in their 

 land, but they are also prepared to take their share in the defencei 

 and responsibilities of this great Empire. New Zealand had presented! 

 the Empire with a great battleship — a great gift from a country wuthj 

 so limited a population — and had agreed to an increased yearly contribu= 

 tion towards the maintenance of the Pacific Squadron. Australia, too. 

 was doing her share and was creating a navy, not for the purpose ol 

 standing aloof from, but to assist in the defence of the Empire and thf 

 protection of its trade routes. Some had expressed the opinion tha1| 

 Australia could have done better by contributing large sums tow^ardef 

 the upkeep of the Imperial Navy, but, be that as it might, Australi^^ 

 was increasing her large expenditure in following on what she regardec 

 as the best and most effective method in the interest of the Empire, 

 Many, Sir Albert went on to say, are paying their first visit to thi^i 

 country and many erroneous ideas as to its people have been cleared 

 away; and that surely is well, for are we not kith and kin? Whethei 

 we live at the Antipodes or elsewhere, we are all Britons and proud t 

 be members of the greatest Empire the world has known. Mr. Chair 

 man and gentlemen, I thank you on behalf of the visitors from beyonc 

 the seas. 



Sir Thomas Elliott, K.C.B., in proposing the toast of " Thj 

 Eoyal Horticultural Society," said that the Society, under whos 

 auspices the exhibition was held, had been fortunate in securing th 

 services of capable and distinguished men who had made that Societ 

 what it w^as. The industry which the Society was established to prcj '''^ 

 mote was a rapidly increasing one, and afforded to many thousands c| 

 their fellow-countrymen not only a healthy pursuit, but sane, ration^! i^^l 

 pleasure. He had always thought that the E.H.S. was an admirabl 

 example of what Englishmen could do without State aid and untranj 

 melled by Government interference and restrictions. The series of exhlftfl 

 bitions held under the auspices of the Society set up a standard to whic 

 some of them might try to attain, and they afforded to horticulturist 

 opportunities for bringing new^ ideas to the knowledge of those wl 

 were interested. The way in which the Society had done their utmol; ^suj 

 to promote education, both scientific and technical, in all matters affecl 

 ing horticulture was deserving of the highest possible praise; and fce 

 was a real pleasure to the Board of Agriculture to find themselvl|:.l|g 

 able to give them a grant this year for the first time in aid of tho'liju 

 work. Some people seemed to think that Government offices kept tu| 

 of sovereigns in their cellars into which they could dip for the purpo|i|jjj^ 



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