January  13,  1898. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  CMIDENER. 
\\  ho  are  thus  in  favour  of  my  cause,  cannot,  I  think,  act  otherwise  than 
towards  a  change  of  policy,  which  will  have  a  beneficial  eflect  on  the 
future  sUtus  of  the  National  Chrysanthemum  Society.  I  thank  one  and 
all  lor  their  sympathy,  congratulations,  and  good  fellowship. 
One  word  more  in  conclusion.  Are  we  not  jilacing  a  severe  tax  on  the 
many  horticulturists  WHO  are  more  specially  in  the  florist  and  decorative 
line  by  holding  so  many  exhibitions  /  What  benefit  do  they  gain,  say  by 
the  December  show?  Mr.  So-and-So  only  comes  because  another  Mr. 
bo-and-bo  will  be  there  representing  the  special  line  ;  and  so  matters  go 
OT,  not  for  these  exhibitors’  pecuniary  benefit,  or  for  the  good  of  the 
N.C.b.,  but,  as  “A.  D."  puts  it,  “to  exploit  a  glorified  music  hall."  Is 
It  not  intolerable  ? — J.  W.  Moormam. 
_  I  will  not  weary  your  readers,  nor  occupy  your  valuable  space,  by 
reiterating’  all  that  has  been  said  on  the  subject  by  vour  iirevious 
correspondents :  1  will  merely  content  myself  with  saying  "that  1  should 
imagine  there  are  very  few  members  indeed  of  the  "N.C.S.  who  would 
not  be  glad  to  see  the  exhibitions  and  Floral  C  omniittee  meetings  held 
elsewheie  than  at  thi*  Royal  Aquariiun.  Tlu*  fearful  crushing,  shouting 
ot  rival  showmen,  tlie  smoky  atmosphere,  the  plethora  of  drink  shops, 
excessive  warmth,  and  the  dreadfully  bad  light,  are  obstacles  utterly 
opposed  to  the  display,  proper  adjudication,  or  eiijO^nient  of  the  exhibits. 
Who  IS  to  blame  for  the  Scciity  continuing  to  hold 
its  exhibitions  at  a  place  so  utterly  unsuiled  for  the  purpose  ?  Well,  I 
observe  that  some  of  your  correspondents  attribute  the  blaine  to  the 
Fig,  6.— chrysanthemum  eahlswood  beauty, 
The  N.C.S. — A  Few  Suggestions  uoit  Future  Action. 
I  HAVE  perused  the  correspondence  in  reference  to  the  N.C.S.  wliich 
has  lately  appeared  in  your  columns  with  a  considerable  amount  of 
interest.  The  discussion  so  far  has  been  carried  on  in  a  perfectly  fair 
and  moderate  tone,  and  I  feel  sure  no  one  can  deny  that  it  has  not  been  of 
a  hopeful  character.  If  yotir  numerous  correspondents  who  have  taken 
part  in  the  controversy  have  not  been  able  to  put  forward  any  practicable 
and  tangible  scheme  for  providing  new  headipiarters  for  the  N.C.S.’s 
exhibitions  they  have,  at  any  rate,  showm  that  there  are  good  grounds  for 
ventilating  the  subject  with  a  view  to  testing  the  opinions  of  the  members 
as  to  the  desirability  of  holding  the  exhibitions  elsewhere  than  at  the 
Royal  Aquarium. 
obstinacy  and  autocracj’  of  the  Secretary  ;  others  to  the  lethargy  of  the 
Committee.  According  to  iny  limited  knowledge  of  societies  and  their 
powers,  I  am  inclined  to  believe  that  the  onus  of  responsibility  rests  more 
particularly  upon  the  slmuldcrs  of  the  irieiiihers.  I  hold  that  the  duty  of 
a  secretary,  he  he  honorary  or  paid,  is  to  carry  out  the  instructions  of  his 
committee  in  regard  to  all  important  details  concerning  the  policy  and 
general  working  of  a  society.  It  is  not  his  duty  to  decide  where  the 
society  shall  hold  its  exhibitions,  nor  to  “  rush  into  print "  and  express 
opinions  of  an  authoritative  nature  concerning  the  policy  of  the  committee 
without  its  sanction. 
It  is  the  Committee's  duty  to  formulate  and  carry  out  the  general 
policy  of  the  Society,  whetluT  it  be  the  preparation  of  the  schedule,  the 
