May 17, I8f8. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
307 
H owever interesting the fortnightly Shows of the Society 
may have been in the exhibition hall at Westminster, it 
■cannot be said they have attracted a large share of public patronage. 
It is doubtful if a number of small shows at short intervals repre¬ 
sent a safe and sound policy ; and certainly they do not impress 
visitors, who in these days of great efforts expect something more 
imposing. At the time of writing, preparations are in progress 
for representing the work of the Society on a larger scale and 
in a different position ; and when these lines appear the result 
will he seen under canvas in the Temple Gardens on the Thames 
Embankment. A better site for a flower show could scarcely be 
imagined, and as the Lord Mayor is expected to lead the way, 
•a large following should be insured, provided the present bright 
weather continues, but a falling barometer is not encouraging. 
We can only hope for the best—summer-like days, a fine Show, and 
a great success. 
The Society’s officials and friends have concentrated their efforts 
irpon this gathering, and the opportunity has been afforded by the 
■courtesy of the Treasurer and Benchers of the Inner Temple of 
■utilising the garden in a most appropriate manner, and providing the 
■citizens of London with a novel and beautiful Exhibition. The 
Inner Temple Garden contains about 3 acres of land adjoining the 
Thames Embankment, from which it is separated by ornamental 
iron railings. The greater portion is laid out as lawn, which 
looks as fresh and neat as that in any country or suburban garden. 
Near the Embankment and at the upper part are flower beds, now 
gay with highly coloured and varied Tulips, but which are filled at 
other periods with different seasonable attractions. The great 
popular period of this Garden is in November, when a glass house 
at the lower part of the ground is occupied with Chrysanthemums, 
to inspect which the public have been admitted for a number of 
years. There the late Mr. Broome won considerable fame in the 
-cultivation of these plants, and there Mr. J. Newton has ever since 
provided an annual Show that has materially assisted in extending 
the popularity of Chrysanthemums as town plants. For some time 
free Chrysanthemum Shows were also provided in the Middle 
Temple Garden, both under Mr. Dale and Mr. Wright, bufi these 
have been discontinued in the past two years to the regret of many 
persons. During the summer months the Benchers of the Inner 
Temple also most generously throw the garden open during the 
•evening, a privilege which many persons and children " in city 
pent ” most heartily appreciate. 
The Inner Temple Garden, therefore, possesses a special horti¬ 
cultural interest, though an exhibition of such importance and 
magnitude as that which will be opened to-day has never pre¬ 
viously been held within its bounds. Historically, the Temple 
irecords, most briefly treated, would fill a large volume, for many 
eminent literary men and great lawyers have been, and still are, 
connected with it. One matter, however, is worth a passing 
reference—namely, the tradition perpetuated 'oy Shakespeare that 
it was in this garden the Wars of the Roses originated. In his 
Henry VI. a scene is introduced in the Temple Gardens, where 
•“ the Earls of Somerset, Suffolk, and Warwick, Richard Planta- 
ganet, Vernon, and another lawyer” indicate their respective 
favour for the Houses of York or Lancaster by plucking white or 
ed Roses. As Mr. J. C. H. Flood remarks in his interesting little 
No, 412.— VoL. XVI., Third Series, 
work, ‘‘ An Hour in the Temple,” “ the ‘ other lawyer,’ like the 
fox in the fable who had caught a cold and could not smell, appears 
to have remained neutral, as a wise lawyer would under such cir¬ 
cumstances. This incident is extremely effective in a dramatic 
sense, but it is founded on nothing more than coinage of the poet’s 
brain, and there is no tradition in the case. It is an amusing scene, 
in one sense, for it seems to indicate that even so grave a project as 
a civil war could not be undertaken without ‘ counsel’s opinion,’ 
because there were two lawyers present, and the ‘ parties ’ had 
previously been talking matters over in the Hall. This, it appears, 
was not sufficiently private for such a discussion as they were 
pursuing, hence we may infer that in Shakespeare’s time the 
Temple Garden must have been a far more secluded spot than it 
is now.” 
But we must turn to the preparations for the Show, which have 
kept Mr. A. F. Barron and his assistants busy for the past few days. 
Two marquees of most spacious proportions have been erected, one 
over 200 feet long and 30 feet wide, parallel with the Embankment, 
and the other at right angles with this, 100 feet long, (iO feet wide, 
and about 30 feet high. An area of something like 10,000 square 
feet is thus covered with canvas, and it will be seen how large 
a number of exhibits can be accommodated, but most judiciously 
abundant space will be afforded for visitors. In the entrance 
marquee, the right hand side will be mainly devoted to market 
growers’ groups contributed by Messrs. May, Hayes, Sweet, Page, 
Poupart, Hawkins & Bennett, Rochford, Gregory & Evans, and 
others. These will be arranged upon the grass, a stage on the opposite 
side being filled with collections of cut flowers, Messrs. Barr and 
Son, T. S. Ware, J. Walker, and Collins Bros, contributing 
Daffodils and hardy flowers. A bright array of well grown plants 
may be expected here, and . tastefully arranged with small 
useful Palms and Ferns they will afford some effective groups and 
a brilliant vista. 
The other marquee will be occupied with larger plants, and 
there one side will be appropriated to Roses in pots from Messrs. 
W. Paul & Son, Waltham Cross ; C. Turner, Slough ; Paul and 
Son, Cheshunt ; .Jackman, Woking ; and Rumsey, Waltham Cross. 
It is anticipated that fully 1030 square feet will be filled with 
Roses, and this alone will be an exhibition of considerable beauty. 
Upon the opposite side will be miscellaneous groups in competition 
and otherwise, while upon the centre stage the Orchids and other 
choice plants are to be arranged. 
Baron Schroder, Sir Trevor Laavrence, Major Lendy, Mr. 
Phill brick, Messrs. Sander & Co., and Mr. J. Cypher promise 
groups of Orchids from their valuable collections, while 
important contributions from Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, B. S. 
Williams, .J. Carter it Co., J. Laing & Sons, and H. Cannell and 
Sons will add to the interest of the Exhibition. Pelargoniums 
fi’om Messrs. Turner & Hayes, Calceolarias from Messrs. James 
and Cannell, Caladiums from Forest Hill, and a collection of 
Channel Island produce from Mr. Munro, will all constitute attrac¬ 
tive features. This large marquee if well filled will have a grand 
appearance, and such an experienced show superintendent as Mr. 
Barron knows exactly how to make the most effective use of plants 
and gi’oups in a spacious tent. 
The schedule enumerates twenty-four classes, including three 
for groups of plants arranged in a space not exceeding 150 square 
feet, from nurserymen, market growers, and amateurs respectively. 
To Orchids six classes are devoted, three being for groups of 
Orchids, one for a collection of cut flowers, and the other two for 
collections of Masdevallias, with Odontoglossums and Cattleyas, 
with Lmlias. Roses iu pots and cut blooms have two classes, 
Azaleas, Pelargoniums, Clematises, Palms, fine-foliage plants, exotic 
and hardy Ferns, hardy plants and Calceolarias, with the misce’- 
laneous non-competing exhibits, which always occupy so large a 
space at shows of this character. It was originally intended to 
confine the Exhibition to one day—Thursday—but it was subse- 
Ko. 2008. —VoL, LXXVIll,, Cld Series. 
