May 24, 1894. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
309 
W RITING in advance of the Summer Show of the Royal 
Horticultural Society we cannot but regret the sudden 
departure in the weather, from bright sunshine and pleasant 
breezes of a week ago to harsh dry chilling easterly winds of an 
altogether discomforting character, A continuance of such 
shivering conditions must of necessity prejudice the Show both in 
respect to the enjoyment of the flowers and music by visitors, 
and the risk of injury to choice and valuable plants, for it is the 
rule for the choicest and the best to be displayed on the occasions 
of the Society’s Shows in the Temple Gardens on the famous 
Thames Embankment. We are hoping for a change of a favour¬ 
able nature, as only summer-like days are wanting to make the 
event a brilliant success. 
For the purpose of these summer exhibitions it was a stroke of 
fortune that placed the disposal of such an admirable site—some 
4 acres of lawn not altogether treeless—in the centre of the largest 
city in the world at the disposal of the Royal Horticultural Society, 
and it is not possible to appreciate too highly the favour granted by 
the authorities of the Inner Temple. In the privilege afforded a 
favour was conferred not only on the Society, but the citizens, 
who were thus enabled to inspect and enjoy the richest floral 
treasures the country could supply and display in the most easily 
accessible position in London. It was not without some misgivings 
that the grant was made for the use of the cherished lawn, which 
it was feared would be injured in the preparations, and by the 
concourse of visitors, and so it would have been but for the special 
care that was taken, and the flooring of all the tents and approaches 
thereto with boards. This was a work of some magnitude, the 
lawn covered probably exceeding 30,000 square feet; but it proved 
a wise precaution, for on the occasion of one of the first, if not the 
very first of these shows, the rain fell in torrents on the opening 
day, and showers were frequent on the second, yet no damage was 
done, the turf being as smooth and fresh as ever when the pro¬ 
tection was removed. This immunity from injury smoothed the 
way for the future, and fortunately, except on one other occasion, 
the best flower show weather has prevailed. 
Each year the exhibits have been more numerous than before, 
or would have been if space could have been found for them. 
This, great as it was, being inadequate, led to the crushing and 
crowding of plants, not a few collections being spoiled in effect by 
huddling. Last year the show was a veritable crush of plants, 
flowers and people. This year an additional marquee is provided, 
yet the crowding of exhibits will perhaps be as noticeable as ever ; j 
and of visitors, too, should the bitter winds depart and clouds 
disperse. Then shall we have a brilliant scene. 
It seems a pity that the number of plants cannot be better 
adapted to the space at disposal. It is often said that great shows 
cannot be had without large money prizes. This may be so in the 
provinces, but is not so at the Temple. Here, without money 
prizes, the clamour has been for more space, and because this 
could not be apportioned in many instances, more plants were 
crowded in than could be properly displayed. Perhaps the 
disappointments of various exhibitors could be mitigated, if not 
prevented, if the conditions relating to space were more precise. 
Experience has been gained now to enable something like a 
definite extent of tabling to be apportioned, or limits prescribed 
No. 726.—VoL. XXVIII., Third Series. 
that should not be exceeded, without the least fear of vacant areas 
occurring under the long stretches of canvas. The desire to exhibit 
the most and the best at shows, where all the “ best people ” attend, 
is so great that all possible space that can be found in the Temple 
Gardens is sure to be occupied. 
It is not a question of money prizes at all. Wealthy amateurs 
are abundantly satisfied with the cups and medals that they win so 
well, and the same may be said of professional horticulturists. 
The latter look very naturally and properly to a greater dispersion 
of plants and flowers that a^e provided by their enterprise and 
skill. Such shows as those under notice are brilliant emporiums of 
all that is most beautiful and rare in the floral world. The 
bringing together of the treasures shows how great are the 
resources of the providers, and also how great the admiration for 
what they find it necessary to display for meeting the constantly 
increasing demand. It is the same on the continent. The great 
shows there are not the result of large money prizes. Amateurs 
exhibit because they derive pleasure from doing so, and also afford 
pleasure to others ; while professionals find it advantageous to be 
represented by the best productions of their skill. Yet their 
shows and ours are wholly different. Abroad we find magnificent 
Palms and such-like plants, with fine flowering specimens, yet 
(Orchids apart) in limited variety, and all displayed with con¬ 
summate taste to make a magnificent spectacle. Still, we do not 
find at shows abroad any approach in numbers, quality, or variety 
to the popular garden and greenhouse flowers that are displayed at 
great exhibitions at home. 
But our continental friends make the most of what they bring 
together, while we do not. Their shows are picturesque—ours 
are formal; and perhaps the most formal of all are those arranged 
in the Temple Gardens. There appears no help for this. It 
seems to be a question of making the huge canvas tents to fit the 
space, and the collections of plants to fit the tents. If it could be 
otherwise—if a sufficiently extensive covered area could be found 
for displaying to the best possible advantage the wealth of plants 
and flowers we have at disposal, we might produce a floral spectacle 
that could not be excelled in magnitude, splendour, and diversity 
in any part of Europe. Last year a visitor came direct from the 
Paris show to our display in the Temple Gardens, and he did not 
hesitate to say that, “in numbers, richness, variety, and value of 
plants, our exhibition was overwhelming ; but for taste in effect 
and picturesqueness it sank very low in comparison, and he could 
only regard it as a great show spoiled by cramming.” Those who 
have seen great continental exhibitions in Paris, Ghent, and such 
an one as was provided at Antwerp last week, could not in the least 
be surprised at the remarks cited. We do not make the best nor 
the most of our material, nor is it cossible to do so in a series of 
isolated tents. But even in these the massing is commonly over¬ 
done ; a less number of plants, of a distinctly superior character, 
would, in many instances, make a more meritorious display than by 
the habit of packing so many together, which largely prevails, 
though we are not without hope of seeing some improvement in 
the great show now in preparation. 
Except in the artistic association of plants, however, we have 
no desire to point to the superiority of collections of one country 
over another. The world is placed under tribute for furnishing 
the richest and rarest plants obtainable, and it is only by a com¬ 
bination of the best examples of culture from various countries 
that the full beauty of the vegetable kingdom can be demon¬ 
strated, as in the case of a grand and really international show. 
Shall we ever have one in England ? Curiously, just as the last 
lines were written comes a note from “ D.,” headed “ A British 
International Flower Show,” the writer of it going on to say 
“ This heading may seem to be somewhat of an incongruous 
one, but at least it clearly conveys my meaning. It is When is 
Great Britain to have its turn in providing ones more a great 
International Flower Show ? I have been reading your glowing 
No. 2382.—VOL. XC., Old Series. 
