THE FLORIST. 
309 
THE ROYAL DEVON AND CORNWALL BOTANICAL AND 
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
This Society was, by the exertions of the late E. P. Bastard, Esq., of 
Kitly, SirT. D. Ackland, Bart., Mr. J. Poutey, and other gentlemen, 
established in 1830. Its objects are, the promoting the study of 
botany and horticulture, and the improving the condition of the 
humble cottager and industrious labourer, by distributing prizes to 
them for the produce of their gardens. 
Among the first generous supporters of this society stand pro¬ 
minent the late Duke of Bedford and the late Earl of Morley. I 
regret to find this support has been withheld by the successor of the 
first nobleman, while the present Earl of Morley continues that 
given by his father. 
In 1831, her Majesty Queen Adelaide, and in 1833, his late 
Majesty King William, were graciously pleased to become patron 
and patroness of the society, giving it the title of Royal from this 
time. On the accession of our present Sovereign, she was graciously 
pleased to become grand patroness; in 1842, his Royal Highness 
Albert Prince of Wales, by his council, became grand patron, giving 
the society an annual subscription of ten guineas. At present the 
society consists of one hundred and five members of the first class, 
and one hundred and fifteen of the second class. It has about three 
hundred pounds funded property, and an income of about two hun¬ 
dred and twenty pounds ; from arrangements made last year, the 
expenses will be within its income, and will, from the care taken by 
the committee, continue to be so. 
The society has three exhibitions in the year, held at Plymouth, 
in May, July, and September. The show of flowers is usually good, 
the fruit and vegetables very fine ; but to those who feel an interest in 
the poor, the cottagers’ stands must ever be a source of pleasure ; here 
you find the flowers, fruit, and vegetable produce of the labouring 
man, most of it as good as that of his more favoured exhibitors in 
the amateur class. To shew this has not been without the benefi¬ 
cial results anticipated by the founders, one who began a poor man 
in this class, has raised himself to be a market-gardener, and, for five 
successive exhibitions, carried off from all his richer competitors the 
first prize for a basket of vegetables containing at least thirty diffe¬ 
rent sorts. 
The society gives an average of one hundred and forty pounds 
in prizes annually, about twenty-five of this to the cottagers. Florist 
flowers have much improved in these parts under its auspices, and it 
has produced a greater taste for floriculture ; the improvement in 
fruit has been great; but in vegetables it has been such as would sa¬ 
tisfy the hopes of the most sanguine. It once went a little too far 
for its funds, but stopped in time ; and now, in its nineteenth year, it 
has the prospect of attaining a good old age. Its next exhibition, in 
May 1849, is expected to be held, by permission, in the magnificent 
gardens of the Earl of Mount Edgecombe, one of its patrons. 
[Inserted at the request of some of our West Country subscribers.] 
