October 18, 1890. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
103 
well he may understand the subject he is writing about, 
there is sure to be something crop up upon which lie 
desires fuller information. For this purpose he will 
have recourse to books for further information, 
so that, in the end, perhaps no one derives more benefit 
from the paper than the writer himself. Some have 
even gone so far as to condemn the use of books 
as works of reference by writers of papers, but 
this appears to me to be so ridiculous, that it is 
not worth further consideration. Bat I should 
like to ask those who oppose references to standard 
works of what use they are if they cannot be so used. 
At the same time let me caution writers against whole¬ 
sale copying, and whenever extracts are made the 
source of the information ought to be given. If this 
is followed it will in many cases often strengthen the 
opinions of the writer, but at the same time copying 
too freely ought to be avoided, as this would counteract 
all the good to be gained in writing. The reading of 
papers (which ought not to exceed half-an-hour in 
reading) should be followed by a discussion by the 
members, for however good a paper may be that is read, 
there are sure to arise various points on which all may 
not agree, and the more members take part in the 
discussion the more good the paper will be the means 
of doing. But do not let us at any time forget that 
the object of the discussion should be to elucidate the 
truth, and not to see who will get the best of an 
argument. 
Besides getting as many different opinions on the 
subject as possible, there is yet another reason why I 
should like to see everyone take part in those dis¬ 
cussions, and that is, it greatly helps everyone to 
express his thoughts and meaning more fully by the 
practice of speaking before others, a subject by no 
means to be overlooked. Besides the reading and 
discussion of papers, I would strongly recommend the 
setting aside of so much time at every meeting for the 
purpose of giving every member the opportunity 
of bringing forward any difficulty he may meet with in 
his work, or asking any cpiestion relating to horti¬ 
culture on which he may desire information. There is 
much to be done in this way ; and to allow the fullest 
information being given, I would strongly advise that 
notice of the question be given at one meeting and 
discussed at the next. This would in many cases enable 
fuller information to be given, by allowing time 
for the members to look up the subject and think the 
matter over, for in this we should not forget there is 
generally a why and a wherefore for everything, and a 
right way and a wrong way to do a thing, and a right 
and wrong time to do it. By adopting some such 
course as this at our meetings, I feel certain it would 
be the means of helping many of our members to over¬ 
come difficulties, which unfortunately are too often 
met with in our daily avocation. 
Again, to illustrate what may be done under 
exceptional circumstances by good culture, or as the 
results of certain treatment, it would be advisable to 
offer facilities for exhibiting plants, fruit, vegetables, 
or other objects likely to be of interest to the members ; 
this would, of course, cover insects (for where is the 
gardener who has not insect pests to contend against ?), 
insecticides, and manures. It seems almost superfluous 
to say a word on this point, because the Ealing and 
District Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement Society has 
already set a good example in this direction during 
past sessions. The system here adopted of awarding 
marks has much to recommend it, because, by limiting 
the number of marks given to each exhibitor on each 
meeting night, we put the large grower on the same 
footing as the smaller one. I strongly advocate the 
continuance of exhibiting at our meetings, not only 
because it encourages friendly rivalry, in trying who 
will do best, but the exhibits thus brought forward 
are the means of considerably enlivening the pro¬ 
ceedings of the evening by the cheerful appearance they 
give to the room. 
To encourage those exhibits, it is necessary that 
some small prizes, in money or kind, should be offered, 
and the system followed last season of offering books to 
be competed for is, I think, one of the most satisfactory 
ways in which to grapple with this question. Every¬ 
one will agree that those members who bring exhibits 
to enliven the proceedings should in some way receive 
a little acknowledgment for the trouble of taking their 
things to and from the meetings besides the praise they 
hear bestowed on them. To see an array of pretty 
flowers and plants before them helps to keep the 
audience together, and on good terms with themselves 
and each other, for it is an essential point, and con¬ 
tributes much to the success of these gatherings, that 
harmony should be the ruling aim. So far the 
work carried on has been to furthev instruct and 
enlighten our neighbours where we can, and in return 
to receive the same kind attention at their hands. 
There is yet another subject, and a more important 
one, which 1 wish to bring under your notice, and 
that is the establishment of a society, in connection 
with the gardeners’ mutual improvement associations 
throughout the country, which will undertake ex¬ 
aminations somewhat after the same character as those 
held under the Science and Art Department. These 
examinations would be held to test in horticultural 
subjects those who attended, and to grant certificates. 
Such a society would be of the greatest advantage 
both to employer and employed. It would ensure to 
the employer, if he engaged a gardener who held a 
certificate of the society, that he at least knew some¬ 
thing about gardening, and how it ought to be done, 
which in too many cases is more than can be said at 
the present time. To carry out this suggestion it 
would be necessary to have a meeting of delegates of 
the different gardeners’ improvement societies to 
thoroughly discuss the matter, and, if approved of, to 
draw up rules for the guidance of members, and setting 
forth the benefit to be gained by all gardeners having 
the society’s certificate. The delegates should be 
further empowered to appoint a committee to make 
arrangements for the holding of classes in connection 
with present gardeners’ societies, or separate classes, 
where lectures would be delivered on subjects likely to 
be put at the examinations. These examinations 
could be held yearly at the close of the session, in 
April or May of each year. The committee could also 
arrange the .most suitable subjects tor examination, 
which should vary year by year. The subjects could 
also be divided into three classes, as is done with many 
of the subjects in connection with the Science and Art 
Department; there could be the elementary for beginners, 
advanced for journeymen and foremen, and honours for 
head gardeners. The examinations for ' the latter 
would be much more severe than in the two former. 
If such examinations could be held, they would do 
more to bring the value of education to bear on 
practical work than could be done by any school for 
horticulture. 
Such a society if formed would cause the rising 
generation of gardeners to look up what is at present 
known as the scientific part of gardening, and they 
would soon find out the advantage of combining science 
with daily labour. It would cause a spirit of enquiry 
to spring up with regard to why certain things are done 
in certain ways, - which in the past have been accepted 
because they are so. There would be no difficulty 
in finding good men to act as examiners, men who know 
the practical part of gardening as well as the scientific 
side. Our societies are a means of education : we often 
hear the exclamation that we are always at school, at 
any rate that is true with gardeners. Our mutual 
improvement societies offer the means of carrying on a 
still more important work, and a work I should like to 
see carried to a successful issue. 
In the present day, when we hear so much of 
unionism amongst nearly all other branches of labour 
except gardeners, the certificate of such a society as I 
have indicated, would do more to protect not only 
gardeners, but their employers from being imposed 
upon, and employers would soon find that it was to 
their advantage to employ only those who held such a 
certificate. This would also place the outside labour, 
which does so much to keep gardeners out of employ¬ 
ment, in its proper place, and gardeners would take 
precedence of labourers where garden work was wanted 
to be done—a step much needed at the present day. 
The schools of horticulture in France and Germany 
are the means of sending many young men to this 
country, which in turn must keep others from obtaining 
situations, and, this being the case, it is nearly time we 
were beginning to wake up to the situation. No 
doubt these schools of horticulture are capital insti¬ 
tutions, but I think, with our mutual improvement 
societies spread all over the country, and examinations 
held in connection therewith, it would be the means of 
awakening many who are now in a state of ignorance. 
There are now so many facilities offered in gaining a 
good education to all those who feel that way inclined, 
that there can be no excuse if they neglect it. To be 
a successful gardener at the present day, requires that 
he must also be a successful scholar, and have a 
knowledge of several of the sciences, which would 
include botany and chemistry. How can a man be 
expected to explain or describe a plant if he does not 
know the names of the different parts of the plant ? 
Any labour bestowed in this direction is time well 
spent to the gardener. 
A subject which greatly holps us to keep on im¬ 
proving the knowledge we already possess, is the 
means adopted here of offering prizes for essays on 
given subjects, where at our leisure we can write, read, 
and rewrite until we get the subject beaten into shape, 
according to our own ideas. Advantage can be taken 
of this kind of writing, to see that all words are 
correctly spelt, and by having a dictionary by you 
while writing, all doubtful words can be looked up ; but 
this difficulty, where it exists, will soon be overcome. 
One more advantage to be gained by our mutual 
improvement societies is the facilities they offer to their 
members of getting plants, fruit, or vegetables correctly 
named. If the plants or fruit or whatever else be 
brought to the meetings, the chances are that the 
name can be found. Every gardener ought to know 
every plant under his care—-yes, everything else he can 
possibly learn about it. These are a few of the 
advantages to be gained by such a society as ours, and 
during the long dark evenings, when our meetings are 
held, I cannot imagine a more profitable way in which 
a man can spend one evening a week than by taking 
part in our meetings, and hearing what information 
there is to be given, or by assisting others with what 
knowledge he may possess. 
I have omitted one thing I intended to mention, and 
that is, there ought to be an opportunity given those 
who bring exhibits to the meeting to explain or give 
any particulars concerning them which may be of 
interest to the members. A little time given in this 
way might often be of much value. Do not let us 
lose an opportunity of doing good. The foregoing may 
not agree with all your ideas of what a gardeners’ 
mutual improvement society ought to be, or its aim 
may not be high enough for some ; but with the 
object—to do what good we can for one another — all of 
you I am sure will agree. 
In conclusion, let me advise every member to have a 
try for the prizes offered by the society for essays on 
different subjects, and whether he succeed or fail he 
will find it time well spent. Gardeners, as a rule, 
never know what it is to be beaten. Whether that is 
a second instinct—gained by the constant waging of war 
against insect and other enemies—or not, I am unable 
to say ; but I think, nevertheless, that it has some¬ 
thing to do with it.— Alex. Wright. 
-- 
CHRYSANTHEMUM SHOWS, 
1890. 
Nov. 3.—Woolcote. 
,, 4.—Devizes. 
,, 4, 5.—Brixton, Finchley, Streatham and Clap- 
ham, Kent County, at Lewisham. 
,, 5.—Ealing. 
,, 5, 6.—Dalston, Highgate, Market Harborough, 
Tooting. 
,, 5, 6, 7.—Portsmouth. 
,, 6.—Chiswick, Pembroke, Taunton. 
,, 6, 7.—Ascot, Isle of Sheppey, Stroud, Tottenham 
and Edmonton. 
,, 7.—Bradford, Exeter. 
,, 7, 8.—Crystal Palace. 
,, 10.—St. Neots. 
,, 11, 12, 13, 14.—National Society’s Centenary 
Festival. 
,, 11, 12.—Brighton, Eastbourne, Kingston, Leeds, 
Lewes, South London, Truro. 
,, 12.—Chelmsford, Sevenoaks. 
,, 12, 13.—Bath, Birmingham, Bournemouth, 
Croydon, Cornwall, Dartford, Faversham, 
Guildford, Hampstead, Isle of Thanet, North¬ 
ampton, Tunbridge Wells. 
,, 13.—Crediton, Dawlish, Taunton. 
,, 13, 14.—Barnsley, Cranbrook, Southend, South- 
gate, Wimbledon, Winchester. 
,, 14, 15.— Eccles and Patricroft, Bolton, Hitchin, 
Derby, Leicester, Sheffield. 
,, 15.—Bacup. 
,, 16, 19.—Ghent, Belgium. 
,, 18.—Stamford. 
,, 18, 19.—Hartlepool, Twickenham. 
,, 19, 20.—Bedford, Hull, liugby, Westerham. ’ 
,, 19, 20, 21.—York. 
,, 20.—Shrewsbury. 
,, 20, 21.—-Warwick, Ware and District. 
,, 20, 21, 22. —Scottish Horticultural at Edinburgh. 
,, 21, 22.—Stockport. 
,, 22.—Batley. 
,, 25.—N. C. S. Floral Committee. 
,, 28.—Dundee. 
Dec. 10.—N. C. S. Floral Committee. 
