March 14, 1869. j 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
215 
the community to which he belongs. On his own confession he made 
an ill-considered charge a ainst nurserymen and others on page 74, for on 
page 172 he says, “ I do not make this charge deliberately.” Mr. Bishop 
also wrote of “ what one would term Cabbage growers, with a know¬ 
ledge of cows, pigs, and poultr 3 r ,” and goes on to complain that “ they 
are so often recommended to fill important situations.” There are 
many able and earnest men in that category who are sedulous readers 
of the Journal, and I think they are entitled to courteous treatment. 
Mr. Bishop, in my opinion, has failed to substantiate his charges, but he 
has not hesitated to “blow his own trumpet ” to tell us how much more 
competent he is than his successor in the situation which he held “ for 
upwards of four years.” This is a feat which, I hope, gardeners will not 
attempt to imitate. We occasionally see curious and quaint statements 
and remarks in the gardening papers, but I have no recollection of see¬ 
ing a gardener disparaging his successor to the laudation of himself. 
To Mr. Bishop belongs the credit of this innovation. I think I perfectly 
understand that he desires to advance gardeners as a class, and I agree 
with his ideas of certificates, &c., although he is somewhat vague, but 
I thoroughly disagree with his remarks about “ Cabbage growers ” and 
“nurserymen and others” on page 74.—Hugh Dale. 
Youb correspondent, Mr. Bighter, page 332, says that legally and 
soria'ly the gardener is no more than the equal of the scullery maid, 
stable helper, or garden labourer. In the matter of voting at County 
Council elections he is often the inferior of the last-named, as is shown 
by the same correspondent. There can be no two opinions that such an 
anomaly needs amendment, and seeing that a service franchise was in¬ 
troduced into the larger matter of parliamentary elections, the privilege 
of voting at County Council elections cannot consistently be long denied 
us. Mr. Thomson, page 81, speaks lightly of the matter, but I think 
that a very large per-centage of gardeners would much prefer not to be 
excluded from the register on which labourers under them are placed. 
With respect to the social position of gardeners, I see no way or even 
desirability of setting up an artificial social distinction. Each man 
must find his own level, but I quite agree with “ H. W. W.,” on page 
544, that whatever position a gardener holds legally the average gar¬ 
dener, by reason of his greater responsibilities and intelligence, should 
be and is shown greater respect by the average employer than are the 
persons named—the remarks of Mr. Bighter (o the contrary notwith¬ 
standing. To give only one instance. Is not the whole Horticultural 
Press a standing protest against the position assumed by Mr. Bighter 
and his authorities ? Have the persons with whom they have the good¬ 
ness to class us any such index ? I trow not. Doubtless there is an 
over-supply of gardeners, but I fear the same remark applies to many 
other callings as well. 
Mr. Barry, page 587, thinks that Darwin’s law of the survival of the 
fittest would work effectually if a National School of Horticulture 
were established. We all know there are gardeners and gardeners, 
but seeing that the term has so wide a signification, and that the 
wants of owners of gardens are of so varied a character, it seems to 
me that Darwin’s law would be rather hindered than helped in its 
natural operations by the artificial working of a National School of 
Horticulture. I say nothing as to whether the mitigation of that 
severe law would or would not be an advantage to us, but with our 
rough and ready methods I cannot but think that that “law ” has more 
scope and is really grinding out a better state of things, not the least 
being that the time seems fast approaching when, generally speaking, 
none but those who have a really natural adaptability for the calling 
will care to remain amongst us. Such men love gardening for its own 
sake, and can even afford to look with supreme disregard on such petty 
matters as not being considered by some to be the social equals of land 
stewards or farmers. 
Your correspondent, Mr. Maher, page 172, “hits the nail on the 
head,” in my opinion, where, among other sensible remarks, he says, 
“ it is quite possible to be a gentleman’s gardener and a gentleman at 
one and the same time, in the highest sense of the word.” This 
is quite true, and striving towards that goal will tend to lift us above the 
petty squabbles of the ser'ants’ hall, the saddle room, or the village inn, 
and we shall reap a reward in the possession of more solid peace of mind, 
even in the absence of artificial social distinctions, than any number of 
such distinctions can afford. If the outcome of this friendly exchange 
of views should have no better result than inducing a considerable 
number of the fraternity to raise their ideals to a higher level than 
heretofore, your valuable pages will not have been encumbered in vain, 
but one more victory will have been scored by “our good old Journal.” 
—T. W., Liverpool. _ . 
It is gratifying to find such men as “ A. D.” taking up this question. 
I wish 1 were sure that he is right in his views in regard to the voting 
powers of gardeners occupying separate dwellings in the grounds of the 
employer. My information is to the effect that “A. D.” is in error; 
and I may say that before writing on this subject I consulted one of the 
best authorities on municipal and parliamentary law in this country, 
but, unfortunately, he has since died. I am aware that there are some 
gardeners who have been placed upon the registers of voters for County 
Councils who occupy their dwellings under similar conditions to myself ; 
but I believe that every one of them may be deprived of his vote as 
the law stands at present. It is amusing to find writers mixing up the 
personal qualities of individuals with the social position of gardeners 
collectively. Mr. Maher lays stress upon the possibility of a man being 
“ a gentleman’s gardener and a gentleman at the same time.” I have 
not said one word to the contrary. I know that such is the case in 
many instances ; and that is one of the strongest reasons he can give in 
support of my proposition that gardeners should combine to raise them¬ 
selves as a class.—A. Bighter. 
At a general meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society held 
March 12th in the Drill Hall, London Scottish R.V., James’s Street, 
S.W., W. T. Thiselton Dyer, Esq., C.M.G., F.L.S., in the chair, the 
following candidates were duly elected Fellows of the Society-viz., 
W. Ainslie, H. Patkins, Mrs. S. Cecil Bignold, Albert Brassey, Hon. 
Mis. Albert Brassey, Henry Butt, William Charles, Sidney R. Chester¬ 
ton, Rev. A. E. Clementi-Smith, Rev. P. Clementi-Smith, Mrs. C. R. 
Cook, John Cockburn, Mrs. Collis, Henry Crocker, M.D., Norman 
Davis, Heer S. A. De Graaff, John Fraser, J. B. Gill, Mrs. R. Grant, 
Mrs. Homfray, Mrs. W. Hudson, Geo. Paice, John Philpot, Henry D. 
Pochin, John W. Price, George C. Raphael, Jonathan Rashleigh, Thomas 
Sheldon, Alnod E. Studd, Alfred Vince, Miss Harriet Wilson, Mrs, 
Henry Woodrow, and Major-General Young, R E. 
- Events of the Week.—I n the coming week the spring 
Shows will commence with one at Manchester on Tuesday, March 19th, 
followed the next day by the first Show of the Royal Botanic Society in 
Regent’s Park, and one at Preston, the last named being a two-days 
Show. On Thursday, March 21st, the Richmond (Surrey) Society will 
hold their first spring Show, in which it is said some novel attractive 
features will be introduce :1. The National Chrysanthemum Society’s 
General Committee, announced to be held on the 11th inst., has been 
postponed to March 18th, when also the Floral Committee of the same 
Society will meet at 6.30 p.m. 
- We see the death of Dr. Sankey of Borreaton Park 
announced, at the age of seventy-fi vet. Dr. W. H. 0. Sankey was a 
familiar presence at all the metropolitan horticultural, and especially 
floricultural, meetings some years ago, when he was resident physician at 
the old London Fever Hospital at King’s Cross, and when he subse¬ 
quently held a high official appointment at ITanwell Asylum ; but 
having gone to reside at Sandywell Park, near Cheltenham, and lately 
at Borreaton Park, near Baschurch, he has been seldom seen in his old 
haunts. Dr. Sankey was an ardent florist of the sound old school, and 
was rarely absent from the social gatherings of those days. 
- During the present year the horticultural programme at the 
Crystal Palace, Sydenham, will be of the customary liberal and 
varied character, judging by the schedule just to hand. The season 
commences with a Spring Show on Saturday, March 23rd, when twenty- 
six classes are devoted to bulbs, forced plants, See., with prizes ranging 
from £5 to 10s. On May 11th the Summer Exhibition will take place, 
forty-five classes being provided for stove and greenhouse flowering and 
fine-foliage plants, Orchids, Pelargoniums, Azaleas, Roses, cut blooms, 
vases, bouquets, and buttonholes. The National Rose Society’s Exhibi¬ 
tion is fixed for July 6th, the Fruit and Dahlia Exhibition for Septem¬ 
ber 6th and 7th, the Hardy Frnit Show for October 10th to 12th, and 
the Chrysanthemum Show for November 8th and 9lh. The Superinten¬ 
dent is Mr. W. G. Head. 
-- A trio of useful plants for a greenhouse are Eupatorium 
riparium, E. ianthinum, and E. atro-rubens. The first is more generally 
seen than the other two; the clusters of small white fbwer-heads are 
freely produced on the long and somewhat straggling branches, and are 
useful for cutting. E. ianthinum is totally distinct in appearance, 
having broad leaves, an erect habit, and large heads of mauve coloured 
flowers. E atro-rubens is still less familiar to cultivators ; it resembles 
the last named in habit, but is stronger, with larger leaves, loose corymbs 
of purplish flower-heads, and a distinctive character is imparted to the 
plant by the dense dark red hairs clothing the stems and leafstalks. All 
are easily grown in good loam with leaf soil, and they retain their 
attractions for a considerable time. 
- The Weather.—O ur correspondent “ B. D.” writes:—“The 
week in South Perthshire has been changeable but with no extremes. 
Slight snow showers occurred in the beginning; latterly cold winds from 
