THE FLORIST. 
177 
CHISWICK EXHIBITIONS AND TIIEIB DIRECTOR. 
As the Vice-Secretary of the Horticultural Society has twice noticed 
The Florist and reviewed it in the Gardeners Chronicle in a liberal 
spirit, it is to be presumed that he looks through its pages, if only 
to see the contents of its numbers. Should his eye catch this com¬ 
munication, w'e should be glad to ask him how it is, that he who can 
so liberally dispense good advice on the subject of behaviour and pro¬ 
per conduct, and castigate the deficiencies of others whose advantages 
have been so much less than his own, how is it that he does not 
exhibit more courtesy to florists who are invited by the society’s 
schedule of prizes to exhibit their productions at Chiswick ? Last 
July, a number of us appeared with our stands of cut flowers, 
which were most beautiful productions, and wdiich were surrounded 
by crowds of ladies and gentlemen the whole day. We reached 
the gardens quite early, and asked repeatedly what place w r e were 
to occupy ; but no satisfaction could we obtain. At last two of 
our number waited on the Vice-Secretary at half-past nine, for the 
purpose of learning from him if any place was assigned for them, as 
it requires some time for arrangement, and the gardens are cleared 
at ten o’clock. We cannot forget the reply, it w 7 as so wanting in 
courtesy. His indifference for florists’ flowers we were well ac¬ 
quainted with; but w T e did not before know 7 that it extended to the 
exhibitors of them. How is it, that one who can teach so well, can¬ 
not learn that the situation he holds entails upon him a respectful 
attention to exhibitors and their w 7 ants ? Contrasts are drawm be¬ 
tween the officials at the Horticultural Society’s Gardens and those 
of the Botanic Society, very much to the prejudice of the former ; 
and we deem it an act of duty, through the pages of an organ 
devoted to our pursuit, to protest against a line of conduct which 
tends to displease a great many exhibitors, or w T e are misinformed. 
The subscribers to this ask no favours, all they w 7 ant is their due— 
civility and attention. Either banish florists’ productions altogether, 
or give them a proper situation. No person that expends annually 
more upon Roses, Carnations, Picotees, Pinks, &c. than many orchid 
and stove-plant growers, wall be satisfied to w T ait until the latter’s pro¬ 
ductions are all placed and arranged before he is told that there is a 
vacant corner which he may occupy. If wrn write plainly, w T e do not do 
so in an ill spirit. We have, as florists, shared in the (we confess it to 
some extent) well-merited reproofs administered by the talented editor 
of the Gardeners' Chronicle, and we hope profited by them as mem¬ 
bers of the body, though as individuals w T e have felt them undeserved. 
We hope the exhibitors in the present month may receive encour¬ 
agement to believe that their productions are as much esteemed as 
Geraniums, Heaths, &c. ; they ask no more, and will be satisfied 
with no less. Three Exhibitors of 1847. 
[If we know any thing of the gentleman here alluded to, he will be the last 
to object to the above remarks. It is a very difficult post to fill, and an impossi¬ 
bility to make every previous arrangement where so many things have to be placed; 
