June 11, 1887. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
649 
sums for special prizes, anil this year he has, in con¬ 
junction with the City Sheriff, S. Wright, Esq., 
obtained in subscriptions the sum of 50 guineas for 
special Orchid prizes, in addition to the society’s 
usual prizes. 
Special Prizes, &c. 
Mr. Wilson for several years gave £5 for special 
prizes for white and yellow Roses, and other ob¬ 
jects ; good support has been given by Mr. B. S. 
Williams, Messrs. Backhouse & Son, William Dove, 
Esq., and other friends. Mr. B. S. Williams, of 
the Victoria Nurseries, London, has been a steady 
and generous supporter of the society for many 
years, and on several occasions has given special 
prizes of £10. He and Mr. Baines, to whom we have 
already alluded, have been two of the judges of plants 
for many years. 
The large sum of quite £12,000 has been paid in 
prize-money and for judges’ services during the existence 
of the society, and the total amount given away to the 
Charities is a little over £1,000. The amount invested 
is £1,725, and the rent annually paid to the Bootham 
Asylum for the grounds has been, with two or 
three exceptions, £50. The annual average number 
of visitors during the three days is about 40,000. 
First-class bands are always engaged, and other out¬ 
door amusements are provided. We have already 
spoken of a balloon ascent on each day, and on each 
evening there is always a fine display of fireworks 
by Mr. James Pain, the celebrated pyrotechnist, of 
London, who made his first display at the York Gala in 
1876, and with so much success that he has supplied 
them annually for the three nights of the Gala to the 
present time. Last year’s display was especially 
brilliant, calling forth the warmest praise from all; 
and in this Jubilee year Mr. Pain is again engaged to 
supply this very attractive portion of the outdoor 
amusements of the Gala. 
Presentations, &c. 
Presentations have, during the progress of the 
Society, been made to officials—first to Mr. Holtby for 
his past services as chairman, when a handsome can¬ 
delabra was presented to him. In June, 1869, a gold 
watch and Albert guard were presented to Mr. Wilson, 
the secretary, by the exhibitors ; and in June, 1879, an 
illuminated address and purse of £40 was also pre¬ 
sented to Mr. Wilson by exhibitors and friends. In 
1873 a silver candelabra was presented to the then 
Lord Mayor, Mr. Alderman Steward, chairman of the 
committee, by the exhibitors and friends, as a souvenir 
of his year of office as Lord Mayor. Mr. Henry 
Steward was a well-known earnest amateur, who was 
greatly respected throughout the country ; for his name 
was known far and wide as a keen cultivator of 
Auriculas, Tulips, Picotees, Carnations, and other 
florists’ flowers, and he was also a most successful culti¬ 
vator and exhibitor of Pelargoniums. He was truly 
esteemed by his fellow florists, as well as by the citizens 
of the good old City of York he loved so well. His 
sister, Miss Steward, who during Sir. Steward’s Lord 
Mayoralty so gracefully presided at the Mansion House 
as Lady Mayoress, is still a supporter of the Gala and 
a successful exhibitor. 
The following gentlemen have been the chairmen of 
committee : R. W. Bailey, Esq., 1859 ; John Holtby, 
Esq., from 1860 to 1868 ; Mr. Alderman Steward, from 
1869 to 1876 ; Mr. Alderman Terry, J.P., from 1877 to 
the present time. Vice-chairmen: Christopher Harker, 
Esq., from 1860 to 1870 ; William Dove, Esq., J.P., 
from 1870 to 1876 ; Mr. Alderman Terry, J.P., from 
1876 to 1877 ; Mr. Alderman Rooke, from 1877 to the 
present time. Both the present chairman and vice- 
chairman of committee are active members of the man¬ 
agement ; and Mr. Wilkinson has been the treasurer of 
the society from the beginning ; Mr. Wilson also 
holding the secretaryship all that period. 
Supporters of the Gala. 
The committee of the Gala is under great obligation to 
the directors of the York United Gas Light Company for 
their liberality in supplying gas for the inflation of the 
balloon on economical terms, thus really rendering a 
benefit to the Charities. The North Eastern Railway 
Company has also rendered greatassistance to thesociety 
by its admirable arrangements for unloading and re¬ 
loading the railway trucks containing plants within 
100 yds. of the Exhibition ground, and by running so 
many excursion trains to the Gala. Gardeners and 
others from a distance have had great facilities given 
them for visiting the Gala at cheap fares. Other rail¬ 
way companies having their termini in York also run 
excursion trains. 
The central position of the site for the Gala is 
another element in its success, for the Bootham 
Asylum grounds are near to the railway, just outside 
the city walls, easy of access to all, and are so well 
adapted to the requirements of the Gala. The House 
Committee and Mr. Horne, the secretary, have always 
courteously afforded every facility to the Gala committee, 
and the inmates under the care of the attendants visit 
the Exli ibition on the second and third days. 
A Gardeners’ Holiday. 
That the Gala is rendering great service to horti¬ 
culture we cannot for a moment doubt, for a very 
plain proof is visible on the second morning of the 
Exhibition especially, when many hundreds of gardeners 
—young men in particular—visit York for the Gala, 
and take an active interest in the exhibits. No other 
nursery] in the kingdom receives so many gardeners, 
with their wives, children, and, in many cases, sweet¬ 
hearts, as do Messrs. Backhouse & Son ; for on the 
second day certainly business is suspended, and every 
employe has more than enough to do in attending to 
the thousands of visitors and directing them in their 
rambles through this extensive and admirably kept 
nursery. Backhouse’s nursery is one of the sights of 
York to the young gardeners as well as older ones on 
the occasion of the great annual “ outing ” to the 
Grand Yorkshire Gala. 
York, like many other places, had its annual fair 
held at Whitsuntide; but the Gala has become so 
great an attraction for outdoor amusements of a much 
more refined character, that the old Whitsuntide fair, 
with its giants, dwarfs, fat women, learned pigs, 
Circassian ladies, and other wonders, are now for¬ 
tunately obsolete. The Gala is now regarded by the 
citizens and the public generally outside the city as 
one of the great events of the year, and the tradesmen 
make the afternoon of the third day a general holiday. 
The Secret of Success. 
The primary cause of the great success of the \ ork 
Gala may be honestly set down to active, unselfish, 
hearty management. There are no exhibitors on the 
committee, and, therefore, no selfish interests are 
pushed forward. The committee is an extensive one, 
and consists of the leading citizens of the City, and 
few changes take place in its constitution, save when 
death robs it of a member, or the addition of others 
who will strengthen it. Old familiar faces who have 
for a long number of years been warm supporters of 
the Gala and are on the committee, are at their posts 
on the Gala days, and it is a great pleasure to meet 
them then. 
There is no more active member than Mr. Councillor 
Milward, who takes a principal part in directing the 
arranging of the plants, flowers, and fruits annually, 
for on the general effect of the exhibition so much 
depends. The exhibits (and their arrangement is a 
very heavy matter) are always ready for the judges in 
good time, and during the work of the judges, the 
tents are thoroughly cleaned up, and a good example is 
set to many other less pretentious exhibitions. Another 
great charm at the York Gala is the high-class music— 
and there is plenty of it—for only first-class regimental 
bands are engaged. 
The Lord Mayor of York. 
The present occupant of the Mansion House, the 
Right Honourable Joseph Terry, is a very popular Chief 
Magistrate. Courteous to all, earnest in all he under¬ 
takes, and with the true characteristics of an English 
gentleman, he is ever ready to undertake his share of 
work for the benefit of his fellow citizens, and for any 
great object which may require his aid. York is, as 
everyone knows, a very old municipality, and the 
records of the corporation take us back to a very early 
period of English history. Amongst our English 
municipalities, there are but two whose Chief Magistrate 
is a Lord Mayor, and, in all probability, the oldest title 
is that of York. Mr. Alderman Terry has taken an 
active part in municipal matters since 1860, when he 
joined the corporation as Councillor for Monk Ward. 
In 1870, he was appointed to the distinguished office of 
City Sheriff ; four years afterwards he was elected 
an Alderman, and in the same year he was raised to the 
honourable position of Lord Mayor of the good old city. 
Shortly afterwards was made a Justice of the Peace, 
and has ever since been a regular attendant in the 
performance of his magisterial duties, excepting un¬ 
fortunately when his health necessitated his absence 
from York. Mr. Terry is in other ways also a promi¬ 
nent person in York. He is a trustee of the York 
Charities ; a vice-chairman and director of the York¬ 
shire Fine Art and Industrial Exhibition ; a vice- 
president of the York Institute of Science and Art; 
and a manager of the York Savings Bank. As Lord 
Mayor he is, by virtue of his office, the president of 
the Grand Yorkshire Gala, and for several years he 
has been chairman of the Committee, and his active 
genial co-operation has made him very popular with 
those who have officially, in one way or another, 
been connected with the Gala. Mr. Terry is in a large 
way of business at York—the head of the firm of 
merchants and export confectioners, Joseph Terry & 
Son, and his firm has built up a world-wide reputation, 
in our Colonies especially, where high honours have 
been gained respectively at the Melbourne, Adelaide, 
and New Zealand exhibitions in 1880, 1881 and 1882. 
Mr. Terry was, as we have previously stated, elected 
Lord Mayor in 1874, and he was again unanimously 
elected Lord Mayor in 1885, and by the unanimous vote 
of the City Council he was again re-elected as Lord 
Mayor for this Jubilee year of 1887. The Lady 
Mayoress, Mrs. Terry, is a genial and greatly respected 
dispenser of the courtesies and hospitalities of the 
Mansion House, and that long life and happiness may 
attend the Lord and Lady Mayoress, is a wish that will 
find a hearty and cordial response. 
Me. John 'Wilson. 
The secretary of the Grand Yorkshire Gala has held 
that office since the formation of the society, and he 
is a native of York. His father died when the son was 
only nine years old, so that Mr. Wilson has had to 
carve his own way in the world. He was brought up 
to the profession of a law stationer, and carried on this 
business successfully for forty years. He has on many 
occasions acted as local assistant secretary to various 
associations visiting York, such as the Archaeological 
Society, the Social Science Congress, and the Sanitary 
Exhibition. The first event which brought him more 
prominently before the public was his connection with 
the late M. Jullien in organising his grand voucher 
balls and promenade concerts, taking up this work on 
the death of his lamented friend, Mr. John Robinson, 
a well-known teacher of music in York, and a great 
lover and cultivator of Pansies, and other florists’ 
flowers. Mr. Wilson still holds the following appoint¬ 
ments :—Secretary to the Grand Yorkshire Gala 
since 1859, secretary to the Yorkshire Rifle Association 
since 1861, and assistant secretary to the Yorkshire 
Fine Art and Industrial Exhibition. It is particularly 
in his association with the Gala as its able secretary, 
that the name of John Wilson is known far and wide 
amongst horticulturists, and to his untiring energy 
a good deal of the success of the Gala is due, as 
he has kept himself in almost constant communication 
with horticulturists in the interests of the horticultural 
part of the Gala especially. Not only has he personally 
given special prizes, but he has on several occasions 
worked heartily in organising special extra prizes in 
order to bring out some subjects of interest, especially 
Roses and Orchids. Mr. Wilson remained a bachelor 
until about two years since, when he married Mrs. Beck, 
the widow of H. B. Beck, Esq., M.D., of Bermuda, and 
daughter of S. Gordon Warner, M.D., of Trinidad, 
West Indies, in whose family the celebrated “ Essex ” 
Ring has long been a cherished heirloom. Thomas 
Warner, to whom it was presented by James I, placed 
it on his shield of arms with the motto, “ I hold from 
the King.” This ring is figured in Jones’ Fang-lore. 
During Mr. Wilson’s secretaryship, two presentations 
have been made to him by the exhibitors and friends, 
who have felt desirous of showing him how truly his 
efforts to maintain the prestige of the Gala have been 
appreciated, and as some acknowledgment of his 
courtesy to them. 
- *>:£<— - 
Sweet-scented Holly. —It does not seem to be 
generally known that the common Evergreen Holly, so 
much admired and sought after for Christmas decora¬ 
tion, should possess another quality besides furnishing 
the coveted and ornamental scarlet berries. The 
flowers of male trees have a strong but agreeable odour 
that may be perceived at some distance when walking 
on the lee side of the tree while a gentle breeze is 
blowing, or on all sides at a shorter distance when the 
air is perfectly still ; the odour resembles, to a certain 
extent, that of Hawthorn, although not decidedly so. 
