■May S4, 1888. J 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
417 
WAYS MEANS. 
-+- 
have the satisfaction of knowing that our observations 
! Y published last week, entirely in the interests of the Royal 
Horticultural Society, were not wholly fruitless. The requisite 
-details as to the probable nature and extent of the Exhibition then 
in preparation in the Temple Gardens, with the prices of admission) 
were precisely what some of our readers desired to know, and the 
information reached them just in time for attending the Show. 
We have, moreover, reason to believe that some of them ivill 
shortly become Fellows of the Society, while others prefer to 
wait the issue of events. There is a very large number of persons, 
and perhaps a very large majority, deeply interested in horticultural 
pursuits, who cannot bring themselves to believe that showing 
should be the chief object of a horticultural society. They rather 
regard such gatherings as means to an end—gaining public counte¬ 
nance and wider support, that may be applied in some practical 
■and useful manner in furtherance of the gi-eater and ultimate 
object—improved and extended cultivation of plants and crops ; 
■encouragement in the production of new varieties by art and by 
■enterprise ; testing them and estimating their merits, then dissemi¬ 
nating the information for the public benefit. That is the ideal 
entertained by many, and in all probability an increasing number, 
ef what a horticultural society should be, more especially one 
established on a Royal, which of course means a national basis 
in this country, because charters are only granted to institutions 
that are founded for the public good. We not only believe such 
an ideal to be excellent, but capable of embodiment as an actual 
Tact. It is not a sentimental notion, but a practical proposition, 
and it only remains to ascertain the best methods for carrying it 
into effect. 
All the efforts made in the interest of the Royal Horticultural 
Society, including shows, small and large, and all the expenditure 
incurred in the transaction of business, are in accordance with the 
eventual object indicated. This has been clearly stated in our 
eolumns by a member of the Council of the Society and of the 
advising Committee, who said that all the arrangements for hold¬ 
ing shows periodically were made for obtaining support, by which 
the gardens at Chiswick could be better maintained, and horticul¬ 
ture in its widest and most important aspects represented for 
national purposes. That view of presenting the case not having 
been, so far as we know, opposed, the principle may be admitted, 
and there only arises the question of methods. This is essentially, 
and most properly, debatable, and has in fact been publicly debated 
by members of the Council and Committee, and views expressed 
thereon. If there were no divergence of views there could be 
nothing to discuss ; but such a millennium has not arrived in con¬ 
ducting the affairs of this or scarcely any other Society. There are 
majorities and minorities in every corporation of individuals work¬ 
ing for a common object, even in the closest of cabinets, and the 
majority rule, though many an example has shown that the 
minority was sometimes right. The Council of the Royal Horti¬ 
cultural Society is not a secret conclave. It used to be considered 
so, and press and private lectures have on no subject been so 
frequent as on the unwisdom, to employ a mild term, of the 
directorate not taking the public into its confidence. Whether 
desirable or not, and we pass no opinion on the matter at this 
moment, the days of cabinet secrecy passed with the appointment 
No. 413.—VoL. XVI., Third Series, 
of the advising Committee, for there is a commingling of members 
of the two bodies, and matters that are to be brought before the 
Council are discussed with persons other than members of those 
bodies. Whether the Society will be much stronger at the end of 
the year, and in a better position for doing horticultural work on 
the lines acknowledged as correct, than it was at the beginning, of 
necessity remains to be proved. Our strong hope is that it will be, 
and we shall rejoice in the opportunity of giving credit to whomso¬ 
ever it may be due for the good work done and the satisfactory 
results achieved. 
The number of Fellows enrolled during the past few months is 
highly gratifying and very encouraging. The zeal exercised on 
behalf of the Society by friends on the Council and Committees, 
and not less so by the officials, has borne good fruit, and as 
there is no fear of a cessation of endeavour, the numbers may be 
expected to go on increasing. Many have joined, not with the 
object of having their money expended on shows and for distri¬ 
buting among professional showmen richer than themselves, but for 
raising a strong fund for the Society to be expended for conducting 
substantial work in the common interest of all. It is due to Fellows 
holding those views, also to a noble few exhibitors and supporters 
who have staged their products without expecting pecuniary reward, 
and who have done much more than that, to state that the guineas 
of gardeners are not expended in the form of prizes at shows they 
cannot see. It is fortunate the Society has such excellent supporters 
and nothing but good can result through letting the public know it. 
Tie secret of success rests in a sound system of finance. This does 
not consist in miserly hoarding, but in investments that as far as 
human foresight avails, and experience warrants, shall be remunera¬ 
tive. Nor does it follow that an effort must be adjudged a failure 
if it does not directly and immediately bring profit. Seed has to 
be bought and some expenditure incurred in tillage before the 
harvest can be reaped ; but scatter good seed on good ground and a 
satisfactory return may in due time be expected. 
The Exhibition of last week was a sowing of seed, good seed, in 
fresh ground and promising. What the immediate result of the 
Show may be we do not at present know. A financial balance 
in favour of the Society could not be expected under the circum¬ 
stances, and if there should be a near approach in that direction it 
would be encouraging. The locality was most favourable for 
attracting the affluent to see w'hat is being done in the work of 
cultivation, and it was pleasing, indeed almost surprising, to find 
such a large attendance, including many persons of distinction, on 
an unmistakeably rainy day. Moreover, the visitors as a body were 
new to the shows of the Society, which is a great point gained. 
They were not seen at either the Kensington or Westminster Shows, 
where faces were and are so familiar and fresh visitors the reverse 
of numerous. During the course of years thousands of persons in 
the aggregate have no doubt attended the scores of minor shows 
that have been provided at short intervals, and have not been im¬ 
pressed sufficiently for speaking of them with enthusiasm and 
arousing an interest in the work of the Society amongst their 
friends. The public come to a show under the auspices of 
the Royal Horticultural Society with great expectations. 
These would be realised last week, and visitors, of Avhich 
the Baroness Burdett Coutts is an example, are so satisfied 
that they urge others to go also and to support the Society. 
One exhibition of a commanding nature, and in a favourable posi¬ 
tion, is calculated to be of greater service to the Society than a 
score of small gatherings, the nature of which the public do not 
understand and may misapprehend. Periodical meetings of horti¬ 
culturists for the examination of new, rare, and special products 
are most important, and records of them interest the Avhole of the 
horticultural community and keep the work of the Society before 
the world; but exhibitions for the public must nowadays be of 
considerable magnitude to attract attention. Nurserymen appear 
to bo fully cognisant of this, and take care that when the public are 
No. 2009, —VoL. LNXVIII., Old Series. 
