Deoember  36, 18M. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
593 
mittees  more  popularly  elected  than  is  now  the  case,  the  tenure  of 
oflBce  to  be  limited,  half  of  the  members  to  be  retired  by  rota 
everv  year,  and  a  limit  to  be  put  on  their  eligibility  for  re-election. 
Until  the  Council  of  the  R.H.S.  adopts  some  such  course  in  the 
election  of  its  various  Committees,  it  certainly  will  not  be  welcomed 
with  much  heartiness  by  a  number  of  leading  nurserymen 
and  horticulturists  in  the  provinces,  and  its  influence  for  good  must 
consequently  be  much  too  limited,  but  it  ought  not  to  be  very  diffi¬ 
cult  for  the  wisdom  of  the  Council  to  devise  some  plan  for 
widening  its  sphere  of  influence,  and  to  recognise  and  encourage 
provincial  efforts.  A  departure  of  this  kind  must  of  necessity  be 
the  flrst  step  leading  to  the  establishment  of  local  or  provincial 
Committees  which  your  leader  suggests.  If  by  mutual  co-operation 
and  concession  advantage  be  taken  of  the  various  Societies  now 
established,  and  power  given  them  each  of  sending  a  delegate  to  sit 
on  the  London  Committees,  it  would  not  only  invest  the  R.H.S. 
with  the  true  claim  of  being  national  in  its  scope  and  operation,  but 
would  also  bridge  over  the  difficulty  of  getting  Fellows  living  at  a 
distance  to  sit  on  the  London  Committees.  Each  local  body  would 
see  the  necessary  means  provided  for  its  delegate  to  attend  at  least 
a  number  of  these  meetings  ;  and  the  Committees  being  made 
sufficiently  large  a  quorum  would  always  be  guaranteed.  Following 
in  the  departure  from  the  now  beaten  track  there  would  be  a 
variety  of  subjects  come  up  that  a  united  national  R.H.S.  could 
alone  deal  effectively  with,  and  as  every  garden  is  now  more  or  less 
a  trial  ground,  and  all  gardeners  experimentalists,  the  amount  of 
information  that  local  Committees  could  place  in  the  hands  of  the 
R.H.S.  for  distribution,  would  not  be  second  to  that  obtained  from 
Chiswick. 
Such  are  in  brief  some  of  the  opinions  that  are  freely  expressed 
among  provincial  horticulturists. — N.  F.  Barnes,  Eaton. 
I  HAVE  perused  the  article  anent  the  R.H.S.  (page  543),  and 
generally  agree  with  your  suggestions,  more  particularly  with  the 
one  in  connection  with  provincial  exhibitions.  I  see  no  reason 
why  anything  new  should  not  be  adjudicated  locally  by  competent 
men,  either  selected  from  the  immediate  district,  or  in  conjunction 
with  a  sub-Committee  of  the  R.H.S.,  appointed  for  such  purposes, 
and  thereby  settle  the  question  of  merits  on  the  spot.  I  feel  sure 
this  mode  of  procedure  would  tend  to  give  more  confidence  to 
exhibitors  than  that  which  exists  at  present. 
The  difficulty  will  be  the  modus  operandi,  whether  a  local 
Committee  or  the  election  of  a*  certain  number  of  leading 
provincial  horticulturists  on  the  Council  representing  the  principal 
districts  of  the  country.  By  the  later  mode  yon  would  give  these 
men  a  standing  in  the  estimation  of  the  public,  and  although  they 
might  not  be  able  to  attend  the  meetings  regularly  in  London,  an 
“  agenda  ”  of  each  meeting  could  be  sent  a  day  or  two  before,  and 
their  opinions  requested  on  any  subject  on  which  they  may  desire 
to  express  themselves.  By  this  means  you  would  get  the  feel¬ 
ings  of  the  provinces,  which  would  give  much  more  confidence, 
and  lead  to  a  greater  amount  of  friendly  feeling  and  interest  in 
horticulture  generally. 
There  would  necessarily  be  some  expense  in  carrying  out  any 
scheme  of  this  kind,  but  this  could  be  met  by  the  R.H.S.  and  any 
local  Society  taking  advantage  of  these  privileges  by  mutual 
arrangements. — Robt.  Tait,  Manchester. 
I  am  afraid  the  remark  in  the  leading  article  of  the  Journal 
(page  543)  “  that  there  is  a  large  volume  of  feeling  in  the  country 
that  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  is  too  much  localised  and 
unduly  metropolitan  ”  is  only  too  true,  whereas  it  ought  to  be 
broadly  national  and  its  influence  felt  throughout  the  length  and 
breadth  of  the  land.  This  being  so,  the  question  arises.  How  is  this 
change  to  be  brought  about  ?  and  on  this  point  I  have  no  doubt 
there  are  many  and  varied  opinions.  However,  now  that  there 
appears  to  be  great  changes  in  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society’s 
procedure  under  consideration  the  present  may  be  an  appropriate 
time  for  horticulturists  throughout  the  country  to  express  their 
views  upon  the  question.  I  hope,  therefore,  that  I  may  be  allowed 
the  privilege  of  joining  in  such  expression. 
The  consideration  of  this  subject  has  revived  in  my  mind  an 
idea  which  occurred  to  me  long  ago  as  to  the  many  and  varied 
advantages  that  would  accrue  if  a  federation  of  all  important 
horticultural  societies  and  improvement  associations  could  be 
brought  about.  As  everyone  knows,  these  local  combinations 
established  throughout  the  country  are  doing  a  vast  amount  of 
good,  and  if  we  could  unite  all  in  one  common  cause,  having  an 
annual  moveable  conference  at  which  the  whole  of  the  federated 
societies  should  be  represented  in  proportion  to  their  numbers,  I 
believe  greater  good  would  result. 
We  And  that  the  great  majority  of  other  important  societies 
have  their  annual  moveable  conferences  ;  as  examples,  I  may 
mention  the  British  Association,  the  Medical  Association,  the 
Teachers'  Association,  and  many  others  too  numerous  to  mention  ; 
and  when  I  look  round  and  think  of  all  these  conferences  that  are 
held,  many  of  which  have  been  going  on  for  years  and  are  looked 
forward  to  by  those  concerned  with  an  enthusiasm  which  is  a  credit 
to  the  cause  they  represent ;  when  we  see  other  societies  and 
associations  flourishing  and  benefiting  by  the  advice  given  and 
information  gained  at  these  annual  gatherings,  and  the  ever 
increasing  sympathy  and  support  they  receive  from  without — “the 
latter  being  a  result  which  generally  follows  the  efforts  of  those 
who  try  to  help  themselves  ” — I  say,  when  I  see  all  these  things 
going  on,  I  begin  to  think  that  we  horticulturists  as  a  body  have 
been  slumbering,  or  otherwise  blind  to  the  best  interest  of  our 
cause,  and  that  it  is  high  time  we  should  be  aroused  from  our 
lethargy,  and  be  made  to  see  the  importance  of  greater  activity 
in  the  matter  of  horticultural  education  ;  therefore,  being  as  I  am 
convinced  of  the  necessity  of  more  unity  of  purpose  and  more 
unity  of  action  amongst  the  horticulturists  of  this  country,  I  do 
hope  that  the  Council  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society,  when 
considering  any  proposed  changes,  will  be  able  to  devise  some 
plan  by  which  they  will  in  future  be  more  in  touch  with  the 
various  other  horticultural  societies  of  the  country. 
The  suggestion  that  a  deputation  of  the  Council  should  attend 
some  of  the  great  shows  in  the  country,  and  award  certificates  to 
anything  new  and  meritorous,  or  any  noble  example  of  high  culture, 
is  a  good  one,  and  well  worthy  of  consideration,  inasmuch  as  it 
would  enlist  the  simpathy  and  good  will  of  those  who  at  the 
present  time  do  not  entertain  a  very  high  opinion  of  the  usefulness 
of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  outside  of  London.  As  a 
nation,  I  believe  we  are  somewhat  behind  our  continental  friends 
as  regards  facilities  for  the  acquisition  of  horticultural  know¬ 
ledge,  and  therefore  I  think  the  time  has  arrived  when  it  will  be 
well  for  us  to  bestir  ourselves,  and  by  our  activity  and  energy 
prove  that  we  are  at  last  fully  alive  to  the  interest  of  our  pro¬ 
fession,  also  that  we  intend  to  make  good  the  ground  we  have 
lost  in  past  years,  and  to  leave  no  stone  unturned  that  shall  better 
enable  us  to  maintain  and  improve  our  position,  and  meet  the 
necessities  of  the  times  in  which  we  live. 
I  believe  that  its  only  by  a  great  national  movement  inaugurated 
by  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  that  this  important  object  can 
be  obtained.  Local  organisations,  as  already  proved,  are  of  great 
advantage  in  the  localities  in  which  they  are  established.  This 
being  so,  I  believe  if  we  can  concentrate  the  power  and  influence 
of  these  various  associations  into  one  channel,  all  being  animated 
by  the  same  desire,  and  all  having  the  one  same  object  in  view — 
namely,  the  advancement  of  education  in  the  principles  of  practical 
and  scientific  horticultpre  ;  then,  and  only  then,  shall  we  be  able 
to  make  our  voices  heard,  our  jmt  aspirations  respected,  and  our 
claims  to  receive  that  consideration  which  the  national  importance 
of  professional  horticulture  demands.  I  say  national  importance, 
because  there  are  few  professions  which  contribute  so  much  to 
the  necessities,  comforts,  and  pleasures  of  mankind  as  gardening. 
For  those  reasons  I  am  sure  the  Council  of  the  Royal  Horticul¬ 
tural  Society  will  pardon  me  if  I  venture  to  suggest  the  following 
as  a  subject  worthy  of  consideration — namely,  the  question  of 
inviting  the  co-operation  of  other  societies  throughout  the  country, 
and  the  advisability  of  holding  a  Conference  in  some  great  horti¬ 
cultural  centre  outside  of  London  daring  the  summer  of  1896. 
I  believe  if  a  Conference  could  be  arranged  to  be  held  in 
Birmingham,  Manchester,  or  any  other  large  centre,  the  whole 
body  would  be  welcomed,  and  accommodation  provided  by  the 
municipal  authorities,  and  one  of  the  largest  gatherings  of  gardeners 
ever  held  would  be  the  result.— J.  Hughes,  Birmingham. 
As  I  take  great  interest  in  the  R.H.S.,  and  agree  with  you  that 
its  influence  should  be  more  extended  to  the  provinces,  I  venture 
to  make  the  following  suggestions  : — 
1,  That  a  code  of  rules  should  be  settled  by  the  R.H.S.,  in 
conjunction  with  managers  of  a  few  of  the  large  provincial  shows, 
to  form  a  standard  for  the  affiliated  societies,  and  as  a  model  for 
the  guidance  of  large  provincial  shows  having  all  England  classes. 
2,  That  the  affiliated  societies  should  have  the  power  to  grant 
certificates,  medals,  and  cultural  commendations  of  equal  value  to 
those  issued  by  the  R.H.S.,  provided— 
3,  That  the  judges  of  such  shows  be  selected  from  a  list 
sanctioned  by  the  R.H.S.  I  think  the  formation  of  such  a  list 
would  be  by  no  means  a  very  difficult  matter,  and  would  be  of 
great  use  to  the  managers  of  provincial  shows,  and  certificates 
granted  by  such  judges  would  carry  a  weight  that  ordinary  certifi¬ 
cates  at  local  shows  do  not. 
I  understand  that  a  code  of  rules  for  judging  is  being  prepared 
by  the  R.H.S.,  and  this,  when  completed,  should  be  embraced  in 
the  scheme. 
I  quite  agree  with  the  idea  of  forming  local  committees  where  a 
sufficient  number  of  Fellows  reside  within  an  area  to  make  an 
