674 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
August- 26, 1905. 
sophically and go patiently to work to over¬ 
come it. Of somewhat conventional cast of 
mind, he is possessed of a keen intellect allied 
to a quick intuition, and there are quiet 
touches of humour as he talks, as when, for 
instance, in reply to a question whether he 
still did any gardening, he said, with just 
the suspicion of a twinkle in his eye, 
“ The only gardening I find time to do now 
is pasting floral devices on walls, or directing 
others in the same work. My business, I 
may tell you, is that of a house decorator. 1 ’ 
Or again, when we wer© discussing the 
affairs of the society of which he is secretary, 
he observed that they had had occasional 
deficits, adding, with well-simulated serious¬ 
ness, “ But, in spite of some bad years, we 
have always managed to have a good public 
luncheon on show days.” 
That he is a man of energy and organising 
capacity the success of the show at Wimble¬ 
don since ho has undertaken the secretarial 
duties bears ample testimony. 
“ Here is an interesting group,” said Mr. 
Hossack, taking a framed photograph from 
the wall. “ It represents a number of the 
members of our horticultural society, and 
was taken during our first show in 1873. I 
am sitting there on the left, and myself and 
another one who figures in the picture are 
the only two now remaining in the society 
who belonged to it at the start. By the way, 
I successfully exhibited at this first show, 
winning a first prize in the Cottagers’ divi¬ 
sion. I exhibited occasionally afterwards, 
but it’s a long time now since I’ve done any¬ 
thing in that line.” One could tell at a glance 
from the head gear of the gentlemen depicted 
and the plentiful hirsute adornment, in the 
shape of bearded and bewhiskered faces, 
that the photograph dated back to mid- 
Victorian days at least. 
“ You have told me that the society was 
founded in 1873. I suppose there have been 
vicissitudes? ” 
“ Well, not pronounced ones. We have 
really had a fortunate career, judging from 
the experiences of some other societies. As 
1 have already told you, there have been years 
in which there were deficits to meet, but on 
the whole- we have gone along smoothly and 
progressed. For one thing, we have always 
paid our prizes in full. Our shows have been 
very generously supported by the public of 
Wimbledon and the district; the excellent 
‘ gates ’ show that they appreciate the horti¬ 
cultural displays and the amusements pro¬ 
vided, and the well-to-do residents of the 
town and neighbourhood, as well as the lead¬ 
ing tradesmen, have subscribed liberally and 
given many special prizes.” 
At this juncture Mrs. IJossack came in—a 
kindly little lady with silvering hair—and I 
was thereupon introduced to her. Soon; 
afterwards she left the room, to return almost 
immediately with refreshments, and I elected 
to try some home-made wine of her own mak¬ 
ing, which she recommended far too modestly, 
for it reflected much credit on her skill in 
the domestic commissariat. 
Then Mr. Hossack and I fell to again with 
our chat. 
“ You joined the society at the commence¬ 
ment,” I said. “ When did you become sec¬ 
retary ? ” 
“ Oh, only quite recently. My official con¬ 
nection with it began in 1898, when I was 
elected on the committee. From 1899 until 
1902 I was joint auditor.' Then in 1903 I 
became joint secretary, and in the following 
year was appointed hon. secretary. I may 
say that for twelve years Messrs. W. S. 
Thomson and H. Baker were joint secretaries, 
and that the society owes them a deep debt 
of gratitude for their unsparing efforts to 
secure success, and for the way in which they 
stuck to the institution through all its ups 
and downs. It is gratifying to the members 
of the society to know that these gentlemen 
are on the committee, Mr. Thomson filling 
the post of chairman. 
“ No society, I venture to think,” continued 
Mr. Hossack, “ ever had a better working com¬ 
mittee, or one which worked more harmo¬ 
niously ; they all pull together and have the 
interests of the society deeply at heart, so 
that it is a pleasure to be associated with 
them.” 
And it is a pleasure to hear of such amiiy 
when one recollects .the squabblings and 
petty differences on horticultural committees 
which have come under one’s notice, and 
which cannot fail to prove detrimental to the 
success of the organisations, and, as a matter 
of fact, are sometimes responsible for their 
collapse. 
‘‘Just now you mentioned prizes, Mr. 
Hossack.” 
“ Yes, our wealthy residents and the trades¬ 
men have, I consider, supported us liberally 
in this way. First of all, I should explain 
that we have two shows a year—a summer 
show and a Chrysanthemum show, held 
early in November. The latter was started 
many years ago. The accounts of the shows 
are kept separately, and the profits from the 
summer show go to help that held in the 
autumn, which, so far, has not proved self- 
supporting. Some substantial money prizes 
are offered for competition at the summer 
show, and are given by private residents and 
the society. 
“ In 1890 it was proposed by the tradesmen 
of Wimbledon to present a silver cup of the 
value of five guineas for the best group of 
Chrysanthemums, and this has been given 
each year since. Fast year this was won by 
Mr. C. Pullen, gardener to Mr. G. P. B. 
Fores, Blenheim, Haynes Park, this being 
the third cup in succession that Mr. Pullen 
has taken. At the autumn show a silver cup 
is offered in the Amateurs’ and Cottagers’ 
section. We are affiliated with the N.C.S., 
and give the silver and bronze medals and 
certificates of that society.” 
“ I note you go in for sports in connection 
with your summer show, as well as other 
extraneous inducements to capture the 
public.” 
“ We find it pays, and the people like some¬ 
thing in addition to a display of flowers. We 
study the tastes of our patrons and supply 
an excellent programme of athletic sports; 
These were commenced in 1894. They are 
held under A. A.A. laws and managed by a> 
special committee. Of course, we have a good 
band ; that goes without saying. This year we 
engaged the band of the 2nd V.B. East 
Surrey Regiment. 
“As regards outside attractions,” went on 
Mr. Hossack, “ I think we go what is called 
the whole hog, for at seven in the evening 
dancing begins, and there are swings, round¬ 
abouts, cocoanut shies and such like. Patrons 
of the society give money prizes for the sports, 
and the local tradesmen prizes in kind, while 
the society guarantee £5 towards the same 
object.” 
The programme is undoubtedly a compre¬ 
hensive one, and though, in the opinion of 
some, these additional attractions may tend to 
vulgarise a horticultural show and keep some 
people away from it, after all, the executive 
are confronted by the necessity for at least 
clearing expenses, while the laudable ambi¬ 
tion is to make a substantial balance, that 
comforting thing alike to the society and the 
individual. Surely it is better to include 
these attractions, at which some folks cavil, 
than to have no horticultural show at all, 
and in innumerable instances if the sports 
and dancing and roundabouts went the show 
would go as well. 
Mr. Hossack next referred to an admirable 
feature of the Wimbledon society’s summer 
show. 
“ In 1895,” he said, “ it was decided to have 
a stall at the show for the benefit of the 
Royal Gardeners’ Orphan Fund, and this was 
very well supported, five guineas being for¬ 
warded to that deserving charity as a result 
of the experiment. Since that date the society 
ha.s sent altogether to the R.G.O.F. upwards 
of £52. This year, unfortunately, the stall 
for some inexplicable reason yielded only 
£2 9s. 6d., but the committee intend having 
a similar stall at the forthcoming autumn 
show, and thus it is hoped the orphans will 
not suffer. The flowers for this stall are pro¬ 
vided by friends, and the stall itself is 
managed by the nurses of the Wimbledon 
and Merton branch of the St. John Ambu¬ 
lance Association. As some slight acknow¬ 
ledgment of their gratuitous services, the 
committee of the horticultural society send 
a guinea each year to the above worthy in¬ 
stitution.” 
I have come to the limit of my space, and 
have not repeated even the substance of all 
Mr. Hossack told me. He spoke in very 
high terms of the various presidents of the 
society, and of the active interest they have 
always taken in the concerns of the associa¬ 
tion, mentioning, among others, the presi¬ 
dent for the year, Mr. Percy Mortimer, J.P., 
He also spoke in warn praise of the members 
of the committee and of other officers of the 
society. 
Lastly, he referred to the Wimbledon and 
District Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement 
Society, which is an offshoot of and is run in 
connection with the horticultural society. 
This has been established five years, and is 
carrying on a most useful work by its meet¬ 
ings, at which papers are read and discussions 
encouraged ; but of this society I may have 
an opportunity of saying more on a future 
occasion. 
There can be no doubt that these two 
Wimbledon organisations, by their flower 
shows and meetings for mutual improvement 
on horticultural subjects, are doing an in¬ 
valuable work. They owe much to their re¬ 
spective secretaries, Mr. Alfred Hossack and 
Mr. J. Nash, and are deserving of even wider 
support than they have thus far received, 
and of even greater success than they have so 
far achieved. Peter Penn. 
-♦- 
Gardening Appointment. —Some little time 
ago Mr. W. J. Jennings was appointed head 
gardener to the County Council at the 
Middlesex County Lunatic Asylum, Naps- 
bury, St. Albans. Mr. Jennings has had a 
good innings in gardening, both at the R.H.S. 
gardens, Chiswick, and at Kew. He was head 
gardener, previous to his present appoint 
ment, to the Duchess of Santo Teodoro, Oak 
wood Grange, Ockley, Surrey, where h< 
stayed for four and a half years. Mr 
Jennings is a hard worker, and at Oakwooc 
Grange had a very diligent and rather labo 
rious time of it, owing to the heavy claye; 
nature of the land and the fresh pieces bein; 
added to the garden or grounds. 'We wisl 
him every success in his new appointment. 
