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JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ June 10, laOf'- 
PROPOSED FRUIT SHOW IN THE CITY OF LONDON. 
Ox the invitation of Sir James Whitehead, Bart., Master of the 
Fruiterers’ Company, the following gentlemen assembled in the Guild- 
halt on Monday afternoon last to confer with a Committee of the 
Company on the advisability of holding an exhibition of home grown 
fruit in the City of London during the ensuing autumn—namely, 
Messrs. A. F. Barron, G. Bunyard, J. Cheat, J. Emerson, Shirley 
Hibberd, Faunce de Laune, J. Laing, G. Paul, T. F. Rivers, A. H. Smee, 
H. Turner, and J. Wright Dr. Hogg, Mr. William Paul, and others, 
who approved of the action of the Fruiterers’ Company, were unable to 
attend. Dr. Fotherby, R. S. Mason, and H. R. Williams, Esqs., Past 
Masters, with Mr. 0. C. T. Eagleton, were present on the occasion. 
Sir James Whitehead presided, and in a lucid address explained the 
objects in view. He pointed out that the cultivation of useful hardy 
fruits is not now practised in nearly so many gardens of cottagers and 
farmers as was the case a generation ago. He did not know the reason 
of that, but his observations, in the northern counties more particularly, 
led him to believe such was the fact. He thought it must be to the 
advantage of families in rural districts to have a larger and better supply 
of fruit grown on their homesteads. During his mayoralty last year he 
made an appeal to the public to raise a sufficient fund for yielding an 
annual income to be applied to the furtherance of that object. At 
the present time subscriptions amounted to about £1500. He wished 
to draw public attention to the desire of the Fruiterers’ Company 
to increase that fund, and the best method of- doing so was the question 
they had to consider. The proposition to hold a fruit show under the 
Company’s auspices in the City had been favourably received, and if it 
was considered praeticable by the practical men around him he should 
do his best, as -would his colleagues, to make it a success. He wished it 
to be distinctly understood that they had no idea of being in opposition 
to or acting in conflict with any existing society or association which 
was working to the same good end, but the Fruiterers’ Company had 
done a little, and desired to do more, and he therefore asked for co¬ 
operation and suggestions. 
The first question that arose was whether there would be any fruit 
to show this year, and it was stated that several districts were practi¬ 
cally destitute of fruit, especially of the larger kinds ; but when Mr. 
Smee ventured to say he could fill half the Guildhall with Apples from 
one county—Surrey—and Mr. Bunyard said the other half could be 
filled from Kent if needed, the question was settled, and there was 
a general consensus of opinion that, no matter how sparse the crops, 
sufficient fruit was always forthcoming for exhibiting when adequate 
inducements were offered to cultivators. 
A conversation ensued on the advisability of the Royal Horticultural 
Society assisting in the project, Mr. George Paul remarking that he 
believed the Council would regard the matter favourably, but he had no 
authority to give any definite pledge. Mr. Shirley Hibberd thought 
such co-operation might be advantageous, and as a Fellow of the Society 
he concurred in the suggestion. Mr. Bunyard was of opinion that if the 
Society’s proposed exhibition of preserved fruits were added to a City 
Apple and Pear Show, the exhibition would be more complete. Mr. 
Wright thought the question was one for consideration by the Court of 
Fruiterers’ Company on the one hand, and the Council of the Society on 
the other, to consider and decide- If he thought the proposed City Show 
was in any way antagonistic to the Royal Horticultural Society, or any 
Soeiety, he would have nothing to do with it, but it was not. Mr. Smee 
thought it would be well to see what the City could do this year. It 
was eventually decided, probably in view of the time that would be 
occupied in negotiations, that this year the Fruiterers’ Company should 
do the best they could without any formal alliance, and welcome assist¬ 
ance from whatever quarter it might come. 
The following resolution, proposed by Mr. Smee, seconded by Mr. 
Rivers, and supported by Mr. Hibberd, was passed unanimously :—• 
“ That this meeting of a Committee of the Fruiterers’ Company and 
of practical fruit growers, is of opinion that an exhibition of home¬ 
grown fruit, implements, &c., held in the City of London in the autumn 
of the present year would tend to increase the interest of the general 
public in the cultivation of fruit in our homesteads and cottage 
gardens.” 
A sub-committee was appointed consisting of Messrs. Bunyard, 
Cheal, Hibberd, Rivers, Smee, and Wright, to act with the Fruiterers’ 
Company in carrying out the above resolution. 
GARDENERS’ MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATIONS. 
[Prize Essuy, by Mr. J. Barry, Chiswick Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement 
Association.] 
There can be no doubt that the existence of gardeners’ improve¬ 
ment associations has a beneficial and educational influence upon those 
drawn within their sphere of operations, and this influence for good 
will be proportionate to the manner in which they are conducted. The 
craft is clannish to a degree, and despite the unavoidable isolation we 
have always been socialistic, and these societies will make us more so 
by giving us opportunities of knowing each other better, and of uniting 
our forces for the general welfare of our body. Moreover, the meetings 
of these assoeiations are calculated to induce young men to employ 
their spare time profitably. This is an important step, as it will lead 
them on to the high road of thoughtfulness, which lead to self respect 
and the resolve to be somebodies. Such associations, too, inspire young 
men with the desirable ambition of being able to express their thoughts 
intelligibly, and if this was the only result achieved by attendance at 
such meetings, it would be of the greatest service to them in after life, 
when filling positions of trust. In many private places the gardener 
must possess conversational powers, and be able to converse freely about 
his calling with those whom he is serving. . A good address in a man is 
a valuable accomplishment. It wants, however, to be properly balanced, 
so as net to degenerate into mere talkativeness. “ Work not words ” is 
a good old maxim. 
Reverting to our subject, such associations are, if properly conducted, 
a great power for good. They create, as already observed, a social 
intercourse between members of the craft, and are the means of dis¬ 
seminating the knowledge of the elder among the younger members, 
and, what is more, the discussions that ensue have a tendency to destroy 
false or wrong notions, and often create new ideas that only remain to 
be put into practice to prove the fallacy of earlier notions on the same 
subject. One direct aim of such associations is to diffuse knowledge. 
It is the positive duty of all to acquire knowledge by observation, by 
reflection, by reading, and by listening to the informed ; for the greater 
the general stock of knowledge of each individual the more is his own 
well-being promoted, and the more is society benefited. Knowledge is 
not limited in its quantity, its portals are ever thrown open wide to 
all who may choose to enter, and is not, fortunately, in the ago in 
which we live, confined to particular classes. The first step in the 
successful acquisition of any branch of knowledge is to learn to exercise 
the powers of observation. It is, for example, by constantly observing 
the peculiarities in p'ant life—that truly wonderful and beautiful field 
of exploration—that the readiest perception is acquired of their struc¬ 
ture and habits and qualities, which a less practised observer would 
entirely overlook. 
It has been urged as an objection to gardeners’ associations that 
they encourage high flown and scientific ideas, and yet undoubtedly the 
gardener who can combine a true knowledge of science with his daily 
practice is bound to become a successful cultifator. I recollect that at 
a certain association a paper was announced to be read on “Vegetable 
Physiology.” One of the “ old school ” of gardeners remarked to me, 
“ I am successful without knowing anything of physiology ! Many 
good gardeners do not clearly understand the word.” This may be, btit 
they would be all the better gardeners by a correct understanding of it. 
Every gardener in this age who aspires to being a somebody in his 
profession should have some knowledge of vegetable physiology. He 
ought at least to be so far acquainted with its true principles as to be 
able to conduct his operations with some degree of certainty. 
Officers. 
Under this general heading I will venture to throw out some hints as 
to the selection by the members of the executive of these associations. 
Relative to the composition of the managing body or executive com¬ 
mittee, it is most important to success that a good chairman be secured. 
He should be a man of tact, winning manners, business aptitude, strict 
imparciality, broad-minded views, used to presiding at such meetings, 
and well versed in horticultural matters. Do not think I am creating 
an ideal man. Men possessing the characteristics I have mentioned 
may be found for the looking, and when applied to will be found 
willing to place their services in the hands of those requiring them. 
The chairman’s authority should always be upheld by the members' 
generally. A good man wdll never exceed it. The secretary should be 
a real worker, zealous for the welfare of the association, striving t» 
work up his district by inducing all the gardeners living in it to become 
members, so that the place of meeting should be one from which horti¬ 
cultural “ light ” should be ever radiating. It is a good course of 
procedure to change the secretary annually if possible. There is nothing¬ 
like a pretty constant infusion of new blood in such matters. Keep a. 
man in office too long and he is apt to lose an interest in the work, and 
perhaps become proud and independent. This yearly change would give 
all a chance of making themselves useful in carrying on the work of the 
association, and taking greater interest in its welfare. The committee, 
which should not be a large one, ought to consist of good men, each and 
all heartily anxious for the thorough success of the association. Let all 
be workers, and make a point of attending every committee meeting. 
It is very advisable to have changes on the committee from time to 
time, in order that all the members of the society should have placed at 
their disposal a voice in the management of its business. 
Papers. 
It is the custom of some societies to rely a good deal upon what may 
be called “ outside aid.” It may be well to have a particularly strong 
outside light to shine occasionally, but outsiders should not be wholly 
depended upon, or, indeed, to any considerable extent. It is much 
better that the members should contribute the greater portion of the 
papers read at the meetings. I have been inquiring about a neighbour¬ 
ing association—that at Kew—as to their course ot procedure in these 
matters, and I am told that they have no outside aid whatever. Perhaps 
the rule would not be very easy of application, but I should like to see 
one put in motion requiring every member to contribute a paper during 
the course of the session. The members, by contributing the papers, 
would be more in touch with each other, and the discussions be better, 
as the members have naturally some reluctance in criticising a paper 
read by a comparative stranger. Young men are somewhat reluctant 
to contribute papers, and yet they have nothing to fear or lose by a 
little bold action—indeed, very much to gain by such a course. The 
preparation of papers induces thought, and consequently attention, 
