•ffannary SO, ISOO. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GADDENER. 
81 
U NDER that familiar term, which in common parlance signifies 
the art of cultivating gardens, a great variety of subjects 
present themselves for consideration, each of which possesses 
interest to certain sections of the community. Those sections in 
the aggregate form a great army, engaged, as we believe, in an 
important and beneficent campaign in the furtherance of objects 
as worthy as any which can claim the attention of man. Making 
the world more productive of that which is good, making our 
surroundings brighter, ministering to the necessities of the poor, 
and adding to the wholesome requirements of the rich, is a pursuit 
than which no other has higher claims to encouragement. It 
seems desirable from time to time to see how we stand as a body ; 
or, more correctly, to see how our work is moving, for stand still it 
cannot, as there must be either advancement or retrogression. 
Looking back over the past few years it is impossible to ignore 
the fact that obstacles of varying magnitude barred the path of 
progress. This was not so in horticulture only, but even more 
seriously in the sister art of agriculture, also in most branches of 
commerce. The declension was general, and correlatively so must 
be the revival. All the branches of industry, all the means of pro¬ 
ducing wealth and promoting prosperity, can be reduced to two 
eoncrete forms—commerce and cultivation. These act and react 
on each other and influence everything. Art, science, professions, 
organisations of benevolence, and even missionary effort feel the 
strain when the wheels of commerce drag slowly and wearily along, 
or, what is worse, glide backwards. This movement is measurable 
and has been distinctly on the down grade in the past, but is clearly 
now on the ascent to prosperity. Trade returns tell us this unmis- 
takeably, and corresponding signs of improvement in the agri- 
horticultural world are apparent. Land is letting better and the 
prospects of cultivators are brighter. Difficulties are often 
blessings in disguise in arousing to higher effort and stimulating to 
better things. 
Activity appears noticeable everywhere, and in many respects 
progress is unmistakeable. Benevolent objects in the horticul¬ 
tural world are well maintained, conferences aiid associations are 
more numerous, better attended and better supported ; thus know¬ 
ledge is being gained and distributed that must exert an influence 
in developing the resources of the soil for the common benefit of 
all. There is a stirring individually for excellence, and a general 
bestirring in corporate bodies. The Royal Horticultural Society 
is advancing aiid increasingly gaining public confidence. It is 
■ working on lines we believe to be sound, and in this way gaining 
adherents. Special societies for encouraging the culture of 
different kinds of plants and enlisting recruits to the great 
floral army are heartily engaged, and accomplishing what 
could not possibly be done so well in any other way. Honours 
are being accorded on a broader basis than before, and many 
win observe with pleasure that special medals are being- granted 
by the Veitch Memorial Trustees to good, assiduous, and 
successful workers for “services in horticulture.” Mr. A. F. 
Birron is followed by Mr. Bruce Findlay and Mr. David 
Thomson as fitting recipients. In this way not only is merit 
rewarded, but encouragement is afforded to others who will 
doubtless be in due time enrolled in the list of worthies. All 
this savours of progress, and it is a pleasure to record it ; but in 
No. 501.— VoL. XX., Thied Series. 
one respect perhaps advancement is fully too rapid—the manu¬ 
facture of gardeners. 
One of the greatest movements of the time is in the direction 
of fruit culture, and there appears somewhat of a rivalry amongst 
individuals and organisations in its “ promotion.” Newspapers are 
being half filled with letters on fruit, practical men, faddists, and, 
truth compels us to add, charlatans, joining in the discussion ; these 
latter, however, not often finding expression in well conducted 
journals ; and some writings in a medium of high position a 
correspondent treats lightsomely in another column. We can¬ 
not say we agree with all he says, but accord him space for 
utterance because he appears to write good-humouredly, and 
has had long experience in fruit cultivation. 
One of the ancient city guilds is giving the weight of its influence 
in fostering the work, and no one who attended the annual dinner 
of the Master and Wardens of the Fruiterers’ Company on Monday 
night last could have failed to recognise the earnestness and indeed 
animation that prevailed throughout the proceedings. The newly 
elected Master of the Company, Sir James Whitehead, Bart., 
ex-Lord Mayor, made an earnest and eloquent appeal on behalf of 
the object of his desire—British fruit grown in British soil for 
supplying the wants of the community. He asked for the help of 
all—the Board of Agriculture as represented by Major Craigie in 
procuring grants for teaching the elements and principles of horticul¬ 
ture and agriculture in village schools as an important and necessary 
form of technical education ; he appealed to the Royal Agricultural 
Society through Col. Sir Nigel Kingseote, Bart., for co-operation, 
and to the richer City Companies for pecuniary help towards rais¬ 
ing a fund for distribution in a manner which would do the greatest 
good to the greatest number, and thus improve the condition of 
landlords, tenants, and labourers by the extended and better culti¬ 
vation of hardy fruits. The responses of the gentlemen named 
were encouraging, and even the Lord Mayor (Sir Henry Isaacs), 
who made a somewhat pessimistic speech, was so far con¬ 
verted to the views of the majority as to assist by a contribution. 
The zeal that is being displayed is admirable, the enthu-iasm 
“ catching,” and both are requisite for the conduct of a campaign ; 
but they must be tempered with wisdom, and the procedure guided 
by experience for achieving the best results. 
Individual fancies must be made subservient to sound prin¬ 
ciples, and much that is fanciful is heard nowadays on the subject 
of fruit culture. Optimists appear at the moment in the ascendant, 
but there is a powerful body of pessimists to put on the drag ; 
and practicalists whose minds are well balanced by experience 
men who know the contingencies to which fruit culture is liable, 
and also the methods by which it can be best conducted to a 
successful issue—are, after all that can be said, the safest guides 
to follow in the important work. It is by a combination of 
influence, wealth, and workers that the most good can be done in 
this and other useful, desirable, and enjoyable branches of horti¬ 
culture, and in all branches we are glad to believe that the spirit 
of progress is moving horticulturists onward to a time of greater 
prosperity. 
OUR FRUIT SUPPLY—PEARS UNDER GLASS. 
Gardeners who can take a retrospect over the last half-century 
will, I think, not be able to fix upon any given time when the 
horticultural press was so freighted with matter bearing on the 
cultivation of our hardy fruits, especially Apples and Pears, as 
it has been for the last two or three years. The dry bones of 
old and effete orchards have had such a shaking of late as one 
has not any recollection of. The interchange of ideas and 
discussions that have taken place between men so situated as to 
have had opportunities of making themselves experts in the matter 
have been very interesting to onlookers, and no doubt profitable 
to many who are able to act upon the suggestions and instructions 
No. 2157 .— VoL. LXXXII., Old Series. 
