January 18,1887. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
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Royal Society at 4.S0 p m. 
Quekett Club at 8 P.M. 
2nd Sunday after Epiphany. 
Society of Arts at 8 P.M. 
THE "ROYAL JUBILEE. 
MIDST all the conflicts of the period, political 
and industrial, it is pleasant to observe the 
deep-rooted loyalty of the community to the 
Throne and Constitution; and in no section of 
that community is this spirit more clearly 
manifested than in the domain of horticulture. 
Those who delight in the occupation of garden¬ 
ing, and who are in sympathy with the culti¬ 
vation of the plants, flowers, and fruits of the earth, 
recognise the importance of national stability; and they 
are convinced that in no other way can this he so safely 
assured as under our present system of government—a 
monarchy resting firmly on the affections of the in¬ 
habitants under its sway. A popular sovereign is the 
greatest factor in a nation’s strength. The intensity of 
the reverence that exists in the minds of all sections of 
horticulturists for the Queen of these realms is suffici¬ 
ently exemplified by the heartiness with which the “ usual 
loyal toasts” are received in assemblies of gardeners; 
while the existence of a desire on the part of committees 
of floricultural and cognate societies to “do something” 
in commemoration of the Jubilee year of Her Majesty’s 
reign is abundantly manifest. Suggestions have been 
made to this end in our columns, and intimations of action 
announced. It is very gratifying to perceive this spon¬ 
taneity of sentiment, indicating as it does the undercurrent 
of feeling that obtains throughout the land. This feeling 
will find expression in various ways, so various, possibly, 
and subdivided, as to obscure its aggregate force. An 
event so historically great as a sovereign’s jubilee, and so 
rare as to occur only at intervals of centuries, demands 
for its fitting celebration wide unity of action, as then only 
can results be achieved in any way commensurate with 
its magnitude and importance. 
There are no doubt many horticultural societies, the 
directors of which will consider the question of devising 
means for an official expression of sentiment towards the 
Queen on the auspicious event that will overshadow all 
others of the year. There are gardeners’ organisations 
which will be imbued with the same feeling, and a desire 
to express it; there is the great commercial body of 
horticulturists—nurserymen, seedsmen, and florists, who 
would rejoice in the opportunity of displaying their devo¬ 
tion to the Crown in an adequate manner; and there are 
thousands of individuals engaged in or closely identified 
with gardening pursuits, men of wealth and men of work, 
who would not hesitate to join in a great effort to repre¬ 
sent in a worthy manner the loyalty of the ancient 
craft to which they belong, or in which they are deeply 
interested. Now if any well defined yet far-reaching 
scheme could be organised for embodying the scattered 
No. 342 .—Vol. XIV., Third Series. 
items of loyalty of all who may desire to be included in 
the great guild of gardeners, horticulture would be seen 
in fuller strength than it has ever yet been displayed, its 
magnitude would be recognised, its character elevated, its 
wholesome influence appreciated, and its resources deve¬ 
loped. A national offering of horticulturists and gar¬ 
deners of all grades, at a great epoch in the nation’s life, 
towards a national object at once useful and commemora¬ 
tive, can, we think, scarcely fail to commend itself to the 
vast majority of our readers as worthy of consideration at 
the present time. 
But admitting the desirability of the great undertaking 
suggested, who shall be its organisers and what form will 
best display the combined sentiments of the horticul¬ 
turists of the United Kingdom? Is there any one object 
on which their attention and that of their allies can be 
concentrated, and at the same time command their sym¬ 
pathies ? To secure those desiderata it must be per¬ 
manent, and immediately and continuously useful. 
We live in utilitarian days, when something more than 
pictures and parchments, gilded pinnacles and Cleopatra's 
Needles are expected for outlay. Homes and hospitals, 
churches and colleges, schools and institutes are the 
favoured commemorative offerings now. If a great public 
want can be demonstrated at an opportune moment a dis¬ 
position is usually created to supply the necessity. There 
is a great want now in the world of British horticulture. 
We have a Boyal Horticultural Society, an old chartered 
institution, the head of all kindred societies in this 
kingdom ; yet, though a Royal Society, it is sad to have to 
record the fact that it is positively without a home, while 
its habitation is of uncertain tenure. Is there any greater 
want of a public nature connected with horticulture than 
the one alluded to ? If there be not, then is not the pre¬ 
sent year singularly favourable for a strong eftort being 
made tor supplying what is so urgently needed for placing 
the Society on a firm basis ? If a new era of useiulness 
can be inaugurated for it, and at the same time this be 
commemorative of a remarkable event, all who share in 
the twin accomplishment will have reason to be proud of 
the work in which they engage. A jubilee house—a home 
for horticulture—would form a substantial and lasting 
memorial of the esteem of an important section of the 
community towards the Queen; and it is not easy to 
conceive of any embodiment of that esteem which could 
be more agreeable to Her Majesty than the erection of 
a building destined for such a good purpose. It would 
probably be advisable that the building should be invested 
in trustees for the use and benefit of the Royal Horti¬ 
cultural Society and for other horticultural objects that 
may from time to time arise. 
The object being suggested that it is so desirable to 
support, it follows that the organisation requisite for its 
accomplishment should rest w r ith the Council of the Royal 
Horticultural Society. It is for them to consider the 
whole question, and if they should feel that an opportunity 
offers such as never occurred before, and certainly 
cannot occur again in the present century, for carrying 
out a great and good work, they will be able to devise 
means for reaching every individual in the kingdom 
who may be disposed to join in the undertaking. It 
would be desirable to have a strong central com¬ 
mittee associated with the Council, and it would 
not be difficult to have local committees formed in all 
populous districts to co-operate in a national horticul¬ 
tural Jubilee tribute of the nature indicated, and there 
must be thousands who would readily contribute accord- 
;No. 1998.— Voe. LXXVI., Old Series. 
