526 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
July 1, 1905. 
I then asked Mr. Wallis t,o tell me some¬ 
thing about the origin of the club and the par¬ 
ticular nature of the programme carried out, 
and the result was the disclosure of a very 
uncommon state of affairs—a quite unique 
state of affairs I should suppose—and which is 
well worth careful consideration by those who 
direct or influence the conduct of horticultural 
societies elsewhere. 
“ We are not an old club,” said Mr. Wallis, 
“ and feel very young by the side of the Nor¬ 
folk and Norwich Horticultural Society, which 
was established so long ago as 1829. That 
society exists for the purpose only of running 
its three annual shows ; we, on the other hand, 
are really a. mutual improvement society, and 
do not hold a public exhibition, though we did 
try it once, and burnt our fingers. It was in 
1889 that we came into 1 existence, the authors 
of our being consisting of certain frequenters 
of the shows held by our sister society, who 
were of opinion that a club of the kind was 
needed in order to provide a place of meeting 
and a means of mutual help and encourage¬ 
ment for those interested in gardening as a 
pastime or a. profession. 
“We started with ninety members, and a 
programme was formulated for a monthly ex¬ 
hibition of fruit, flowers, and vegetables, com¬ 
prising fifteen classes, with prizes for each 
class. A horticultural lending and reference 
library was also instituted.” 
Not a bad beginning truly. 
“ After carrying on our work for some 
years,” continued Mr. Wallis, “ the Norfolk 
and Norwich Horticultural Society recognised 
in the youthful club a valuable auxiliary, see¬ 
ing that it drew from the club’s members a 
large proportion of its exhibitors. As a conse¬ 
quence of proposals from both sides, a repre¬ 
sentative committee from each society met and 
arranged a scheme of affiliation, which it was 
felt would be, and which has proved to be, 
eminently and mutually helpful. Therefore 
the reason why we do not run a public show.” 
Now this, I think, is an admirable arrange¬ 
ment. It is so much better and more reason¬ 
able than the isolation which usually prevails 
between societies of a similar respective status 
situated in the same town or district. If they 
are not consumed with all uncliaritablenes^ 
towards each other, they hold aloof in a per¬ 
fectly absurd manner, and weaken their forces 
by division, instead of uniting to help forward 
the cause. A large number of the members 
of the senior society in Norwich are members 
also of the later comer. No less than thirteen 
of the officers of the Norfolk and Norwich 
Horticultural Society are members also of the 
Horticultural Club, and Mr. Wallis is ex- 
officio member of the committee of the elder- 
society, just as Mr. W. Smith, their iron, sec¬ 
retary, is of the club’s committee. “ Our 
president, Mr. J. Powley, F.R.H.S., is then- 
assistant secretary,” remarked Mr. Wallis. 
“ This is proof of the harmony which subsists 
between the two associations. We have found 
the arrangement work admirably, and I am 
positive it has been of incalculable benefit to 
both of us.” 
“Your monthly exhibitions you would con¬ 
sider^ your strong point, I suppose?” 
" Yes ; but we have many other- important 
features, which all contribute towards the suc¬ 
cess we have achieved.” 
“ Do you find the summer exhibitions diffi¬ 
cult to maintain ? ” 
“ Not m the least,” came the quick re¬ 
joinder. “If anything, they are stronger in 
interest and are always well attended. 0 The 
entries last year numbered 613. Our fifteen 
classes each month are regularly supple¬ 
mented by various special classes, for which 
generous prizes are provided by the local trade 
and other donors. 
“ Our non-competitive exhibits are fre¬ 
quently a great feature,” went on Mr. Wallis 
again. “We find this branch of our'club a 
valuable aid to members, as the specimens 
submitted in this way are generally horticul¬ 
tural curios, or, at any rate, special plants or 
varieties, which might not otherwise be known 
to many. A large number of good things have 
been shown in this way, notably Mr. George 
Davison’s new Montbretia, raised by him and 
named after- himself, and the Wroxham Hero 
Chrysanthemum, raised by Mr. W. J. Lawn. 
A special committee of judges awards certifi¬ 
cates according to merit. 
“We possess among our members an enthu¬ 
siastic and clever botanist in the person of 
Mr. E. Peake, and it was on his initiative that 
our flourishing botanical section was estab¬ 
lished, in connection with which fortnightly 
meetings are held. Of this section, which 
numbers thirty members, I am secretary and 
treasurer. The club have recently purchased 
a powerful microscope for the better examina¬ 
tion of plant specimens and insect pests and 
plant diseases, and this is highly appreciated. 
“ Oh, I had forgotten to mention one of the 
most useful adjuncts in our work,” hurriedly 
continued my informant, who, I think, 
detected the imminent interruption of a ques¬ 
tion from me. Mr. Wallis needs no prom pting 
when on his favourite subject ; all one has to 
do is to* sit and listen and follow the impetuous 
flow of language 
“ I had forgotten to mention our essay com¬ 
petitions. These have grown in popularity 
since their inauguration, and the utility of 
them is obvious since they occasion the writer 
to> inquire well into his subject, and when 
read, excite entertaining and useful discus¬ 
sion. Last year our five essay competitions 
yielded fifteen papers.” 
“Excellent,” I interrupted. “Do you 
—” But he had not heard me, and pro¬ 
ceeded with scarcely a pause. 
“ Another feature which draws good attend¬ 
ances is our non-competitive essays or ad¬ 
dresses. Sometimes we have a lantern exhibi¬ 
tion in connection therewith, which enhances 
the interest of the evening, and addresses or 
lectures are occasionally given by horticultural 
authorities, who visit us for the purpose often 
from distant parts of the country.” 
Mr. Wallis descanted for some minutes 
longer on this particular and pleasing aspect 
of the club’s work, but type is stubborn, and 
will occupy a certain space. Seizing an oppor¬ 
tune moment, I managed to say— 
“ What about the membership ? ” 
“ Well, I’m going to appear to boast. But 
I’m proud of the fact that since my secretary¬ 
ship in 1898 our membership has shown a 
steady increase. Of course, the credit is not 
all due to my efforts ; I do not suggest that; 
but I like to think that some of it is. When 
I took office there were 99 members ; in 
December, 1904, the number stood at 298, com¬ 
prising 23 honorary subscribers, 200 ordinary 
members, and 70 under gardeners. I am 
anticipating that by the end of this year we 
shall have 320, or even more, names on our 
nrembershiT) list. The club contains a large 
element of amateurs.” 
“And your finances?” 
“ They are healthy. Our balance at the last 
audit stood at £116 9s. lOd. Our receipts for 
the past year were £86 11s. 7d., and the ex¬ 
penditure £82 11s. 6gd., thus leaving us with a 
profit on the year’s working of £4 odd. 
“ I should like to say that, Mr. C. Daniels, 
of Messrs. Daniels Bros., Ltd., who is our 
Iron, treasurer, lias shown great interest in our 
club from its very commencement, We have 
a Benevolent Fund, which stands a 
£22 6s. 8d., and which originated in the pro 
ceeds of a dramatic entertainment given b 
the employees of Messrs. Daniels Bros., Ltd 
Tire object of the fund is to assist member 
and the widows of members who may be ii 
temporary distress. Small as the fund is, w 
have, I am pleased to say, been able to do m 
inconsiderable amount of good.” 
Asked to what cause more especially h< 
would attribute the remarkable success of thi 
East Anglian Horticultural Club, Mr. Walk: 
thought it was referable primarily to the good 
value offered to tire member in return for hb 
subscription. The ordinary member- pays 5s. 
per annum ; an under-gardener 2s. 6d. I r , 
addition to the many privileges of his own 
club, to which the member- becomes entitled, 
he is further entitled to a free pass to the 
three annual shows held by the Norfolk and 
Norwich Horticultural Society. The sub¬ 
scription is a moderate ore, and that doubt¬ 
less is one of the causes of the size and vigour 
of the club. 
There are other causes, of course, which 
operate to bring about SO' happy a result. 
For instance, the monthly meetings are made 
supremely attractive ; the president (who is 
never absent) and vice-president are both 
trained gardeners, and, therefore, peculiarly 
fitted to conduct horticultural gatherings of 
the kind, and the other officers seem par¬ 
ticularly apt in planning, arranging, and 
carrying out the various matters in connection 
with the meetings and outings. They are not 
content to stand still ; they keep out of the 
fatal rut of monotony of method, and are fer¬ 
tile. in devising and scheming, and so provide 
variety, and consequently maintain the in¬ 
terest in the affairs of the club. It is un¬ 
deniably an admirable club ; it is a model 
horticultural mutual improvement society, 
well worthy of being copied by some perfunc¬ 
tory societies ; and the way in which it is con¬ 
ducted reflects unqualified credit on the 
executive, and, in a degree, on every member 
of this go-ahead and up-to-date association. 
The subect of this sketch is unquestionably 
deserving of a large share, a preponderatin'! 
snare,. I fancy, of this credit. His enthu¬ 
siasm is perhaps one of the club’s best assets, 
for nothing is more contagious or contributes 
so largely to success in undertakings of this 
character. His actuating principle is clearly 
to serve the club to the utmost of his abili¬ 
ties, unstintinglv and ungnfdgingjy. And it 
has not been merely hard work and zeal, but 
capably-directed hard work, which is a very 
different thing. There can be no doubt that 
to the unsparing efforts which he has devoted 
to the organisation and to the skill and ardour 
u itlr which lie has carried out the secretarial 
duties is due in a large measure the popu¬ 
larity, prosperity, and prestige of the East 
Anglian Horticultural Club. 
Peter Penn v 
Henry Eckford Testimonial. —The contri¬ 
butions to this fund up to the evening of 
Saturday, June 7th, are as follow:—Pre¬ 
viously acknowledged, 7755 shillings ; Mr. 
Hugh Aldersey, 5s. ; Miss C. B. Cole, Is. ; 
Mr. A. Dickson, Is. ; Mr. G. Dickson, Is. ; 
Mr. N. N. Dickson, 2a 6d. ; Mr. James 
Grieve, Is. ; Mr. James Cutler Grieve, Is. ; 
Mr. Tiros. D. Grieve, Is. ; Mr. F. J. Harrison, 
Is. ; Mr. W. Laing, Sutton, 5s. ; Mr. G. H. 
Mackereth, 5s. ; Mr. Clras. Ross, 3s. ; Mr. 
George Simpson, Is. ; Mr. G. Stevenson, 5s. ; 
Mr. David Turner, Is. ; Mr. Wm. Turner, 
2s. 6d, 
