Garden Clubs and Gardeners' Societies 
By William Gray, Rhode Island 
'Is co-operation between 
societies desir- 
clubs and gardeners 
has been suggested by the sentiment, 
NO doubt the question 
garden 
able?" 
tbat exists to some extent, in local horticultural so- 
cieties, that membership in those societies affords a chan- 
nel for the activities of people represented in the garden 
club movement and that there was no need for starting 
these separate organizations. 
Local horticultural societies, however, are principally 
composed of gardeners and amateurs, etc., from among 
those of moderate circumstances, while in nearly every 
society there may be found a few of the wealthier class, 
such as are represented in the garden clubs, but generally 
membership in gardeners' societies has not appealed to 
this class for various reasons, and which suggested the 
need of a separate organization. 
If we may judge by the way garden clubs have sprung 
into existence all over the country, an opportunity to be- 
come more actively interested in horticulture was evi- 
dently eagerly sought by the wealthier class, and these 
clubs should receive the support and co-operation of the 
horticultural societies in view of the fact that the results 
they are accomplishing could not be attained through the 
local horticultural societies. The objects of the two or- 
ganizations being identical — "the promotion of horticul- 
ture" — there can be no reason why co-operation between 
the two should not prove a greater force for promoting 
horticulture than through working separately. 
Another factor in favor of the garden club movement 
being separate from the local horticultural society is the 
greater financial assistance that can be rendered by these 
clubs for the development of horticulture, the annual dues 
in the garden clubs being as high in some cases as life 
membership in the local horticultural societies. It can 
therefore be readily seen that co-operation could be a 
great aid to the societies through the financial support of 
the garden clubs and, as our local horticultural societies 
as a rule are handicapped in their activities by their low 
income, such co-operation should be welcome. 
The question may arise that the garden club being of 
greater financial strength would, in co-operating in any 
project, dominate the horticultural society, but this sup- 
port surely is greatly offset by the practical working 
power that can be furnished by the horticultural society 
in carrying out any undertaking entered into by these 
different organizations. 
There are other ways in which co-operation should 
prove of great benefit to many of our horticultural so- 
cieties, for we would meet with people of different ideas, 
and the horticultural societies would be lifted out of the 
rut of doing things in the same old way year after year. 
With the co-operation of the garden clubs in the exhibi- 
tions held each year, greater taste would be displayed in 
the way of exhibiting and arranging of flowers, etc., and 
with the enthusiasm aroused by the garden clubs among 
their members much more interest would be manifested 
by the wealthy people in attending the exhibitions. 
A great opportunity now presents itself to these or- 
ganizations, to develop a greater interest in horticulture, 
by creating an amateur spirit in America similar to that 
on the other side. With the garden clubs working with 
this object in view among the wealthy classes, and the 
local horticultural societies among the classes of more 
moderate means and both co-operating in this effort, im- 
measurable results are possible in furthering the interests 
of horticulture in this countrv. 
VICTORIA REGIA.- 
-THE LEAVES OF THESE PLANTS, CROWN IN PHIPPS" CONSERVATORY, WEST PARK, PITTSBURGH, PA, 
BY JAMES MOORE, ARE OVER 7 FEET IN DIAMETER, WITH RIMS 5 INCHES DEEP. 
