May 26, 1892. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
389 
A t more than one meeting, when the subject of a projected 
“ exhibition ” has been under discussion, the question 
has arisen whether that should be the term chosen as the objective, 
but it has been overruled in favour of the good old word, short 
and expressive —“ show.” The Royal Horticultural Society adopt 
the term, and when these lines appear the great annual Show of 
the Society will be arranged on the historic ground in the Temple 
Gardens on the Thames Embankment. Not a few persons who 
have travelled afar regard this as one of the finest sites in 
Europe, and it would certainly be difficult to find one more 
appropriate for the purpose, and in the heart, so to say, of a 
city of millions. On previous occasions the Temple Shows have 
been remarkable for their magnitude, diversified character and 
richness, but the fixtures have not been over-fortunate in respect 
to the weather. On the present occasion, though a more ex¬ 
tensive, varied, and beautiful display can scarcely be expected 
than that of last year, yet brighter days are hoped for than 
have prevailed in the past, both in the interests of visitors and 
of the Society. 
The grouping system adopted at these shows is advantageous 
to exhibitors, inasmuch as it enables them not only to exercise 
taste in arrangement, but to employ small as well as large plants. 
Thus new and rare examples can be brought before the public^ 
and if they are less imposing they are more interesting than 
the large and old specimens ; therefore we usually find most of 
what is best worth seeing, and a greater variety of plants and 
flowers, than is to be seen elsewhere. 
We turn now to another Show, the name of which has been 
brought before the public from time to time—the International 
Fruit Show—as announced to be held on the Thames Embank¬ 
ment in the autumn. This project, though altogether laudable, 
was not commenced soon enough to be carried out in all requisite 
completeness, even if nothing of an exceptional nature were likely 
to occur to divert attention from it. But something is likely to 
occur, and the contingency had such weight with the Committee 
assembled in the Guildhall on Monday last, that after serious 
deliberation a decision was arrived at that will cause dis¬ 
appointment to many, though, of course, not to all. The 
Show is not to be held this year. After announcing the 
receipt of cheques from some of the City Companies, the 
Chairman, Sir James Whitehead, Bart., had also to announce the 
receipt of letters from many influential persons expressing their 
willingness to co-operate, but at the same time their inability in 
consequence of the absorbing nature of the General Election, 
which is held, whether rightly or wrongly, to be not far distant. 
The Chairman had also to add that under stress of duties of a 
public and business nature he was so “ run down ” that complete 
rest for as long as possible was ordered as imperative. He was 
compelled, therefore, to leave town for some time, and possibly until 
the political turmoil commenced. It was then felt, as if instinc¬ 
tively, by all present that it would be imprudent to continue the 
preparations in face of the obstacles indicated. Sir James White- 
head did not advise this course, though he was bound to admit the 
difficulties of the position, and he therefore requested each member 
present to express his views. In every instance they were in 
favour of a postponement of the Show. Mr. Haywood suggested 
No. 622.—VoL. XXIV., Third Series. 
a resolution to that effect, but the prevailing unanimity led to the 
following resolution being put from the chair :— 
“ That in view of the concentration of public interest on the 
General Election and the consequent difficulty of making adequate 
arrangements for holding the Exhibition this year, and also in con¬ 
sideration of representations made by intending exhibitors that 
sufficient notice has not been given for preparations, it is resolvea 
that the International Fruit Show shall be held in the autumn of 
1893.” 
This was seconded by Mr. Philip Crowley, and carried nem. con. 
The gentlemen responsible for the decision were, besides those 
named, Messrs. A. H. Smee, H. R. Williams, T. Francis Rivers, 
George Paul, John Laing, B. Wynne, and J. Wright. Being 
in possession of the facts bearing on the case, and impressed at 
once with the certainty of a national upheaval, and at the same 
time the uncertainty of the time of its occurrence, each and all 
felt ample justification for their action. Many meetings have been 
held, and a great deal of preparatory work done, including the 
arrangement of the schedule ; and it was not thought when the 
initiative was taken that events would happen to stop the 
progress of the work. Exhibitors have now ample time, for 
which many have been desirous, to prepare in the best manner 
they may for exhibiting their skill when the opportunity arises. 
On this subject a digression may be made from a discussion on 
“Shows” to point out what is not generally known, and it is a 
fact of no small significance—namely, that so far from our land 
and climate precluding cultivators from competing successfully 
with Transatlantic rivals, American fruit growers are choosing 
and buying land in England for fruit growing on an extensive 
scale for supplying our markets, and they have no doubt their 
enterpiise will be pecuniarily successful. In this innovation may 
be found food for reflection by the non-believers in the capacity 
of the soil of Britain to produce in creditable condition British 
fruit—a paradoxical proposition, and as such it is left for the 
consideration of all who are interested or concerned in the fruit¬ 
growing industry. 
Though one Show of the season has fallen through, there are 
others in prospect. Before the week is out the first competitive 
display will be held in connection with the Horticultural 
Exhibition at Earl’s Court, and its nature is briefly indicated in 
another column. It will be gathered from what is there stated 
that a comprehensive schedule has been arranged, and that the 
prizes are of an exceptionally liberal character. Should the response 
prove equal to expectations—and there is no reason to anticipate 
any other result—the Show will be one of unusual magnitude and 
beauty. It will be visited, no doubt, by many thousands of persons, 
including large numbers who are not specially interested in flowers, 
but who will be led by the pleasure and interest derived to pay 
closer attention to gardening than they have done hitherto. Still 
more Shows will follow there in due course, and there is na 
decrease in the number held in the provinces, while some of these, 
both as regards extent and quality, are equal in merit to National 
Exhibitions. At York, Shrewsbury, Wolverhampton, and various 
other centres, horticulture will be fully represented, and it is per¬ 
haps safe to say that no parallels to tnese Shows can be found on 
the continent. Yet the latter ought, according to the savants, to 
be far in advance of us, inasmuch as we have no “ Schools of 
Horticulture but our best managed gardens and best repre¬ 
sentative Shows are really schools in which valuable lessons are 
taught, and so long as they are well supported we have not the 
remotest fear of the degeneracy of British gardeners. 
Shows, too, of another kind, provided by and for another class, 
are increasing everywhere. We mean exhibitions of cottage garden 
and allotment produce. In districts where such shows have been 
established a few years the improvement manifested in the cultiva¬ 
tion of the ground by the operative classes is little short of 
marvellous, and all endeavours to this end are deserving of the 
No. 2278,—VoL. LXXXVL, Old Series. 
