798 
keeping. To paraphrase Wordsworth, to him 
as it was to Peter Bell, 
A Primrose by a river’s brim 
A yellow Primrose is to him, 
And it is nothing more. 
But this is a digression. Well, and so Mr. 
Stevens and I reclined on camp chairs on 
the lawn facing the grand wide-sweeping 
herbaceous border. The sun was slowly 
westering, and the chilly air and thin yellow¬ 
ing lights and shadows spoke vaguely of 
autumn—vaguely, because the flower beds 
were still so bright and the trees so green ; 
the distant murmuring of the waves came 
up on the breeze, and the occasional plaintive 
carol of a robin, which flitted from tree to 
tree, was a melancholy reminder of the drear 
days to come when Flora s lap would be 
empty and winter would resume its stern 
sway. 
When one is referring to the secretary of 
a progressive society one has perforce to 
speak of his enthusiasm. Nothing overmuch 
is ever effected without it, and no secretary 
worth his salt is lacking in this quality. 
Mr. Stevens is enthusiastic ; he is an ardent 
gardener, a hard worker, a good organiser, 
and possessed with a passion to further the 
interests and spread a knowledge of horti¬ 
culture. 
“When a lad I was apprenticed to the 
cabinet-making and decorating trades,” re¬ 
marked Mr. Stevens in response to a ques¬ 
tion of mine ; “ but owing to a severe illness 
I was compelled at the "age of nineteen to 
seek outdoor employment, and served my 
time in the gardens at Beaufort Park, Battle, 
the residence of Sir A. Lamb, Bart. At the 
end of four years, after having worked my 
way to the position of foreman gardener, I 
left, my health being fully restored, and 
again took u : p the trade of cabinet-making. 
I have never ceased to regret this decision 
though, the reason for which was that the 
wages paid to gardeners were so small.” 
“ You are fond of gardening, then 1 ” 
“ Oh, very. Ever since I left I have made 
a hobby of floriculture, and have for years 
successfully exhibited at local shows. Another 
favourite pastime of mine is cricket ; for the 
past twenty years I have been either captain 
or secretary of the Baldslow C.C., which is 
the oldest village club of the kind in the 
Hastings district.” 
As indicating Mr. Stevens’ success as an 
exhibitor, it may be stated that he was 
awarded twenty prizes this year alone (lie has 
been exhibiting for twenty-two years), eleven 
of these being captured at the Hollington 
Flower Show, and comprising six firsts, three 
seconds, and two thirds. He also took three 
firsts at the Battle Flower Show. His strong 
points seem to be the cultivation of her¬ 
baceous and rock plants and table decora¬ 
tions. 
“My son also emulates me in exhibiting,” 
said Mr. Stevens, “ his taste being in the 
direction of wild flowers. He took a second 
and a third prize this year for exhibits of 
wild flowers, walking upwards of thirty miles 
to get his collections. I have told you my 
favourite flowers,” he continued, “allow md 
to add that my favourite horticultural paper 
is The Gardening World.” 
Possibly it is immodest to repeat this state¬ 
ment, but it is an unquestionable proof of 
Mr. Stevens’ good taste and discrimination in 
the choice of gardening literature! 
“ And now to the society, Mr. Stevens. I 
should be glad of some facts.” 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
“ We are in our infancy, for we came into 
existence only some four years ago. I was 
elected hon. secretary of the society at its 
inauguration, and, as you know, still retain 
the post. But for the instrumentality of Mr. 
Councillor James Stredwick, the famous 
Cactus Dahlia specialist, the society possibly 
would not have been founded. We are much 
indebted to him for this and for the many 
services he rendered to the society, but it is 
matter for sincere regret that in consequence 
of a difference of opinion on a certain matter 
he has severed his connection with vis. Pos¬ 
sibly lie may see his way to rejoining the 
society, and I am sure I hope so." 
“ What sort of support ■ does the society 
get ? ” 
“ We have over 120 members, consisting of 
professionals, amateurs, and cottagers, and 
all of them take a very keen interest in 
the shows and meetings. But we are not sup¬ 
ported as w.e should like or as we consider 
we deserve to be. The public hereabouts are 
indifferent to matters horticultural. Then 
we are at a disadvantage as regards neigh¬ 
bouring gentlemen’s seats ; there are few resi¬ 
dent landed gentry in the vicinity, so that 
the professional element is necessarily 
limited ; villadom reigns supreme all around 
Hastings and St. Leonards, and the jobbing 
gardener, who, as a rule, cares little for pro¬ 
gressive horticulture, and who knows little 
enough about horticulture of any kind, is 
much in evidence.” 
The lack of neighbouring gentlemen’s 
gardens is, of course, a great drawback to a, 
society of this sort, because the visits to 
them joy the members, which it is usually 
possible to arrange, are distinctly educational 
as examples and incentives. 
“ Our public parks are, however, I am 
happy to say,” observed Mr. Stevens, “ object 
lessons of beauty, Gensing Gardens, St. 
Leonards, and Alexandra Park, Hastings, 
providing treats of floral loveliness not sur¬ 
passed by any in the south of England ; 
they are greatly admired by orfr visitors, and 
residents are proud of them, but their 
supreme utility and interest are threatened 
owing to a wave of false economy which is 
just now passing over the borough. A paltry 
saving only can be the result of the retrench¬ 
ment which is contemplated in connection 
with our public parks, while it- will harass 
and dishearten those who are doing, their 
utmost to make them models of beauty and 
high culture.” 
The fact, of course, must not be overlooked 
that this is an ex parte view of the Council’s 
policy. Mr. Stevens approaches the question 
from the standpoint of the enthusiastic horti¬ 
culturist, and his very natural prejudice may 
possibly prevent a due recognition of the 
necessity for reducing expenses, although it 
does seem a pity the parks' should have to 
suffer. The Hastings Corporation have not 
in the past been niggardly in spending 
money, and they have kept the borough well 
abreast of the times in regard to sanitation 
and other important matters. That there 
are broad-minded men on the Council alive 
to the claims which the local horticultural 
society and its secretary so strenuously ad¬ 
vocate is proved by the fact that Councillor 
C. Cox is president of the organisation, and 
Aldermen Dighton, Tuppenny, J.P., and 
Langham, J.P., and Councillors Cruttanden 
and Bontwood vice-presidents, and that they 
admittedly appreciate and generously sup¬ 
port the objects of the society of which they 
are patrons. 
October 14, 1905. 
But to leave debatable questions, I asked 
Mr. Stevens about the shows and meetings 
promoted by the society. 
“ As to shows,” he replied, “ we usually 
hold three a year, namely, in spring, summer, 
and autumn, but they are for members’ ex¬ 
hibits only, though, of course, the public are 
invited to inspect them. Our first, second, 
and third annual shows, held in 1902 and the 
two following years, resulted in financial loss, 
this owing chiefly to bad weather. Since then 
we have confined the exhibits to those of 
members, while increasing the number of 
shows. This year we hold an additional 
show, a Potato show, on October 9th.” 
The loss sustained by the three first shows 
came to some £50, which sum was liquidated 
by means of a bazaar organised by Mr. 
Stevens. I understand, however, that the 
grave mistake was made of omitting to consult 
a certain member of the society’s executive 
about this—an accidental oversight—and in 
consequence there was a to-do, and nothing 
would smooth ruffled dignity but a vote of 
censure on the secretary for his too in¬ 
dependent action. The meeting called for 
this purpose nevertheless declined to deal 
thus with the offender, and the complaining 
member retired from the society in sore 
dudgeon. I wonder what would have hap¬ 
pened if the bazaar, like the shows, had also 
proved a failure. But success covers a mul¬ 
titude' of sins and mistakes. 
“ Of course, the chief object of the 1 society,” 
said Mr. Stevens, “ is to diffuse information 
on horticultural subjects by means of lec¬ 
tures, essays, and the promotion of discus¬ 
sions at our monthly meetings. We have also 
small floral and other displays at each of 
these gatherings. I myself hold a sale stall 
at the meetings, consisting of gratuitous con¬ 
tributions of plants, flowers, fruit, etc., and 
this has proved profitable. The proceeds are 
utilised for cash prizes, to be competed for at 
our special shows. 
“ The monthly reunions, I may add, are 
greatly appreciated and well attended. They 
are much valued for the opportunity they 
offer for interchange of ideas and opinions on 
gardening matters, and that they are mutually 
helpful and act as an incentive to amateurs 
and cottagers towards greater efficiency in 
horticultural pursuits I have every reason to 
know We muster a good force of amateurs, 
and are building up a strong cottage gar¬ 
deners’ section. 
“ Not to weary you,” finally observed Mr. 
Stevens, “ I should like to say that our com¬ 
mittee is a hard-working one, anxious to 
extend the scope and usefulness of the society. 
Mr. William Apps, a. market gardener on a 
large scale, with a thriving retail business in 
Hastings, is enthusiastic in furthering the 
cause we all have at heart, and had you room 
I should like to enlarge on the valuable quali¬ 
ties of our vice-chairman, Mr. W. J. Stone, 
of our hon. treasurer, Mr. H. Frame, and of 
other gentlemen constituting the executive. 
“ I do not desire publicity for myself, but I 
could not resist the opportunity of a good ad¬ 
vertisement which this interview will provide 
for the society in which I feel so absorbing an 
interest.” 
“ Well spoken, Mr. Stevens,” said I. “May 
the society of which you are so worthy an 
officer go on and prosper as it undoubtedly 
deserves to do, and may the purblind majority 
on the Town Council, which would starve the 
borough gardens, come to see the error of 
their ways, and become worthier citizens by 
recognising more clearly the moral signifi- 
