April 28, 1892. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
809 
1-TT- 
POPULARISING GARDENING. 
THE EARL’S COURT EXHIBITION. 
-»o« — 1 
B y whatever agency a wider interest is created in gardens and the 
cultivation of plants or fruits the results must be advantageous, 
and the greater the number of new recruits the stronger must be 
the army of horticulturists. Special societies for promoting the 
cultivation of different plants have concentrated attention on them 
and gained new patrons. Provincial horticultural societies have 
stimulated local interest, and numbers of persons have been 
induced to share in the pursuit of gardening in a large or small 
degree who, but for the attractive forces provided, would have 
remained outside the pale within which they have enjoyed new 
pleasures. Having regard, then, to the good influences exerted by 
the various agencies of the nature indicated, we cannot share in the 
somewhat pedantic views which some good friends appear to 
entertain, that only certain so-called scientific societies should be 
deemed worthy of ungrudging support, while a sort of half-hearted 
cautiously qualified recognition of efforts made beyond them is 
held to be sufficient. Let all the honour that is due to our great 
institutions be most fully accorded, but also let whatever good that 
can be done in other ways have at least a fair and reasonable share 
of encouragement. 
Kew, with its unique resources and world-wide connections, has 
conferred enormous benefits in the development of colonial indus¬ 
tries, and has also been the means of inducing thousands who 
have inspected its treasures to become ardent supporters of 
gardening at home. The Royal Horticultural Society has, without 
doubt, been of great service to the art in which it holds the high 
position of being the national exponent ; but with all its ancient 
traditions and well-meant modern methods it can only exert direct 
influence on a mere fringe of the population. The parks and 
gardens so wisely provided around the metropolis and other 
cities, and generally well managed, have done more than can be 
easily appreciated in moulding the tastes of the multitude, and 
impelling thousands of persons of various grades to improve their 
home surroundings. It is by taking all these agencies together, 
each working in accordance with its means and within its 
possibilities, that gardening has been popularised to an extent 
that could not have been accomplished by a necessarily limited 
number of scientific institutions alone. Even in Belgium, which 
has been described as a nation of horticulturists, that reputation 
would never have been established by the influence of strictly 
horticultural societies, and it was only by an alliance of music with 
flowers, and when “ halls of harmony ” also became on appropriate 
occasions halls of horticulture, that adequate support was forth¬ 
coming, and both arts strengthened. The amalgamation has been 
satisfactory, and the alliance is generally considered a happy one. 
In London we expect to find a similar alliance in the Inter¬ 
national Horticultural Exhibition that will open at Earl’s Court, 
Kensington, on the 7th of May. The best produce of gardens is 
expected to be displayed there from time to time, while all the 
time the representative gardens of different nations and periods 
will form a feature of a most diversified kind. Such an undertaking 
as that on which Mr. Milner is engaged has never been attempted 
before, and judging by the preparations, also the thought and skill 
displayed in the work, the result will be a surprise to many at the 
completeness of the scheme. Yet these gardens in quaint designs, 
peculiar forms of embellishment, and appropriate plants would not 
No. 618.— VoL. XXIV., Thihd Series. 
in themselves induce the througs of visitors who it is hoped will 
see them without the charms of music to attract them there. 
There cannot be a doubt that during the season an infinitely 
greater number of persons will be impressed by what they see in 
connection with gardening than would be possible at ordinary 
shows exclusively horticultural. The endeavour of the promoters 
of this great undertaking is plainly to combine pleasure with 
instruction, and especially to represent gardens and everything 
conrect d with them in the most comprehensive manner that is 
pos. i-L, aiid with the resources at command a great effect will be 
realised. 
During recent years a greater disposition has been apparent on 
the part of the community to seek relaxation from their daily 
occupations in the open air than formerly prevailed. The change 
of habit which is being steadily accomplished is altogether desir¬ 
able, and, than promenades through well-furnished grounds and 
a differently designed and embellished garden at almost every 
turn, nothing more agreeable could well be imagined. In one 
place we have the curious little Japanese garden, so daintily 
different from our ideas of the beautiful ; then we pass along and 
find an Indian Tea garden, in which the shrubs are to be grown, 
the leaves gathered, dried, and brewed, or tea had direct from 
the garden to the pot. Following the curving walk we note a 
Tudor mansion and garden, intended to be as true to Nature and 
Art as are producible. Then the Roman garden commands atten¬ 
tion, with its terraces and statuary as Pliny described about 
1800 years ago ; and, as if that did not take the mind back far 
enough, a garden of the Pharoahs is provided to evoke feelings 
of wonder, and afford a glimpse of the taste that prevailed in far 
past ages. Then, to come nearer home, we have English gardens 
of the Jacobean and Georgian eras, while, as Mr. Milner says,._ 
“ we have our Victorian age amply represented—not in a special 
garden to itself, but in the thousand and one evidences of floral 
beauty scattered over the Exhibition generally.” Altogether 
most interesting will be this congeries of gardens, and they, with 
other attractions, can scarcely fail to attract persons from all parts 
of the kingdom, as well as visitors to our shores. 
Before reaching any of the gardens referred to a great deal 
will be seen. The Great Promenade, with its fountains, will be 
flanked by statuary, various works of art, and plants. Side halls 
to the right and left will be adorned as picture galleries, the 
subjects being generally representative of horticulture. The main 
avenue leads to a handsome tropical garden, picturesquely designed, 
in which towering Tree Ferns and Palms are prominent, and the 
different beds will be kept attractive during the season by the horti¬ 
culturists to whom they have been assigned. Messrs. Turner, 
Slough, and Williams, Holloway, were busy in the preparations, 
and it is evident that a beautiful tropical scene will be produced. 
The surroundings, not only of this garden but of the outside 
enclosure, are striking and appropriate, representing a fringe of 
trees, and in one part the Great Avenue of Windsor is depicted by 
Mr. Halley of Slough, who has been entrusted with all the work 
of this nature—a great undertaking ably carried out. In another 
part the fortress of Gibraltar stands boldly out, and with the 
coast vegetation is highly effective. 
Mr. Milner, it must be said, is doing his work thoroughly 
and thoughtfully, as befits his name and reputation, to make a 
most attractive, instructive, and suggestive display ; and we shall 
be glad if his prediction is fulfilled—namely, “ That such an 
exhibition, embodying all that is known of the art of gardening, 
and possessing a formidable array of extra attractions, is doubtless 
destined to prove the greatest success of any exhibition of recent 
years.” A share of the profits accruing from the horticultural 
exhibition are to be devoted to gardening charities. 
The Wild West Show will be held on one side of the grounds, 
but the timid need not be afraid, as neither the buffaloes nor the 
redskins will be in the garden, and visitors need not go out of it to 
No. 2274.— VoL. LXXXVI., Old Series- 
