254 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
J.\NUARY 8. 
Without any reservation, we record our opinion that 
never were proposals propounded more inefficient for the 
attainment of the objects desired to he secured. 
Those objects are two—Relieving the Society from its 
overwhelming debt; and establishing the Society on a 
more sound and useful basis for the future. Let us 
examine in detail the chief proposals issued by the 
Council, and consider how they are likely to secure those 
. two objects. 
1. London Exhibitions are proposed to be substituted 
for those at Chiswick, such exhibitions to be held in 
some hired “ place.” What is meant by “place” we are 
left to surmise ; but if an enclosed building is intended, 
its attractions can never compete with those of similar 
exhibitions at the Royal Botanic Society and at the 
Crystal Palace. Then, do the Council think that such 
exhibitions will increase the number of the Society’s 
Fellows, or that they will render the Society more use¬ 
ful? If the Council do so think, they have formed a 
very unsound judgment, for, unquestionably, such ex¬ 
hibitions will do neither, 
2. Will “ the illustrated Lectures” have a more bene¬ 
ficial effect? We think not. They can, like the Exhi- 
tions proposed, be of use chiefly to the favoured few— 
favoured by fortune—who can afford to be in London 
at a particular season. Will it increase the number 
of country subscribers? Will the information be better 
or cheaper than that published in the'Florist, Gar¬ 
deners’ Chronicle, and our own pages? 
3. Seeds are to be distributed “ as usual.” Then had 
they better be not distributed at all, for they were ever 
a source of complaint and dissatisfaction. But how 
are they to be obtained, since the garden is to be given 
up? We hope not as is proposed, ^ 
4. “ By means of a Collector.” This is too expensive 
an outlay for an Insolvent Society, and will he done 
much more efficiently by the private enterprize of such 
men as Messrs. Veitch, Henderson, and others. 
The jjroposal, 5thly, to have a small garden for the 
purposes of experiment and raising seeds, &c., from 
such presents as the Society may receive, we consider 
very desirable. 
The 8th proposal that the “Journal” be converted 
into a monthly publication will never be carried oat, 
for if attempted, it would be a disgrace as well as a loss, 
so long as the chief officer of the Society is the editor 
of a rival publication. Past experience has shown that 
the most useful contributions went to the rival publica¬ 
tion, and the heavy preparations into “ The Journal.” 
If the Council wish to know the degree of estimation in 
which the “Journal,” under such circumstances, has 
many copies of it were sold annually. 
Proposals 1(3 and 17 provide that all the present 
Fellows and Members go on paying as heretofore, en- 
joying “every privilege which the Bye-laws permit;” 
but that “ a claps of Snhscribers" be established, who, 
upon payment ol two guineas annually, may attend the 
I Exhibitions and Meetings gratis, and may jmrehase 
' tickets, at the rate ot ten or twenty-five for a sovereign, 
as the case maybe; which comprises, w’e think, “all , 
the other privileges of Fellows,” as they are to have 
nothing to do with “ the government of the Society,” 
and are not to receive either seeds, or plants, or the 
“ Journal”. Now, if this proposal is cai-ried out, it will 
be a signal failure. Who do the Council think will pay 
two guineas upon such terms? It would be cheaper to 
pay three shillings and one shilling to a Member for a 
ticket of admission to as many exhibitions and meetings 
as the proposed Subscriber may wish, or has the oppor- I 
tunity, to attend. * 
But how will the old Jilembers like to go on paying 
four guineas annually, w'hen all they will have for their 
extra tw'o guineas are to be a finger in “ the government 
of the Society, participation in the distribution of seeds 
and plants, and the receipt of the “Journal”?” That , 
“Journal” will never be published; there will be no 
seeds or plants for years to come ; and who is the man 
who covets to have anything to do with the present 
government of the Society? We should like to know 
so bold a man. 
The other proposals on which we have not commented 
are either unobjectionable, or are relative to matters 
comparatively of indifference. 
We regret to see proposals so promising of no succour 
to the Society emanate from its Council; and our regret 
is the deeper because our own opinion is sustained by 
the assent of many of the Society’s most practical 
Members. 
There is but one path open to the Society. It must 
at once pay off its debt, and surrender its Charter. It 
may then be remodeled upon a more popular foundation, 
and placed under more practical management. Then, 
amongst other weights will be got rid of the absurdity 
of a Secretary and Vice-Secretary. Some people may 
be under the delusion that the labours of the Secretariat 
are so onerous as to require two such officers, but we 
assure them it is not so, and that like the two footmen, 
if the Secretary, so far as the Society is concerned, is 
asked any day “What he is doing?” he must answer, 
“Nothing;” and if the same query is addressed to his 
Vice, he must reply—“ I’m helping him.” 
THE SYSTEMATIC ARRANGEMENT OF 
MIXED BORDERS. I 
I 
1 
(^Continued from page 214.) 
I Although I have expressed my approval of the 
I system of planting a mixed bed, or border, on the plan 
which 1 described the week before last, tliat apiproval , 
was only as in comparison to the usual mode in which ' 
we find this ])art of gardening carried out. I would , 
not copy that exact plan for my own mixed border, j 
either for the permanent plants, or for the annuals ; and, 
very jirobably, the model border will be so altered, from : 
year to year, as more kinds of plants are provided for it, I 
as will bring it, in the long run, up to the very point at 
which I would rest satisfied with my own mixed iilanting; 
but where that point in the progress is to be found is ' 
more tlian I can tell at jnesent, for I never yet saw a 
rni.xed flower-bed, or a mi.xed flower-border, so planted 
as to give one an idea of any progress at all in the [ 
