ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF AFFILIATED SOCIETIES. 



CCV 



those who are fruit growers, and hoped that attention to this detail 

 would result from the hint given by the Brewood Society. 



3. What should " Union " mean? Mr. Mark Webster, of 

 Beckenham, introduced a discussion on this subject by the following 

 remarks: — 



Before proceeding to consider what union should mean, it might 

 be well to try to see what union does mean, under present conditions. 



When Mr. Boshier and others, some few years ago, advocated the 

 uniting of Horticultural Mutual Improvement Societies, some of us 

 thought, if the suggestion could be realized, what a splendid means 

 it would afford of strengthening and fixing permanently the numerous 

 societies for mutual improvement which had just about that time been 

 springing up throughout the whole country. 



Whether they all still exist there seems to be no means at present 

 of ascertaining, as there is an entire lack of communication among 

 them. 



The Secretary of the Eoyal Horticultural Society has kindly 

 granted me the information that there are about three hundred societies 

 in affiliation, organized for the promotion of shows, &c., while there 

 are only eight enrolled separately under the Union of Horticultural 

 Mutual Improvement Societies, who hold meetings for lectures and 

 discussion. The names of the eight, as published in the E.H.S. List of 

 Fellows, are : — 



Battersea Gardeners. 

 Loughborough Gardeners. 

 Preston Gardeners. 

 Wimbledon Gardeners. 



Browning Settlement. 

 Manchester Horticultural. 

 Wisley Horticultural. 

 Trawden Horticultural. 



These Societies contribute annually a cash payment of 5s., which 

 is equal to about 25 per cent, of the full affiliation fee, although they 

 are not entitled to participate in the privileges granted to societies in 

 affiliation, 



I am not aware that any of the fee of societies in affiliation is 

 devoted to the interests or objects of societies enrolled under the 

 Union of Horticultural Mutual Improvement Societies. 



Suppose each affiliated society contributed 5s. for enrolment in 

 the Union, the total would amount to £75, plus the £2 contributed by 

 the eight societies now in union, giving in all £77 per annum. Possibly 

 that arrangement might not meet with the approval of societies 

 affiliated for the promotion of shows only ; yet it could scarcely be 

 considered unfair to divide equally the annual affiliation fee of societies 

 who not only promote shows, but also lectures and discussions for 

 mutual improvement. 



The Society to which I belong, and have the honour to represent, 

 was affihated long before " Union " was suggested. We endeavour 

 to educate the general public by a show, and the gardener by meet- 

 ings for lectures and discussion. 



We therefore share in the various privileges granted to societies 



