520 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER . 
Everywhere  that  Englishmen  have  gone,  he  continued,  they  have 
carried  with  them  a  reverence  for  beauty  and  a  love  of  Nature,  and  to 
those  Englishmen  who  have  travelled  to  the  unexplored  parts  of  the  world 
we  owe  much,  as  we  have  had  brought  to  this  country  many  things  that 
have  been  the  result  of  untiring  research.  Horticulture  prospers  and 
increases  with  the  advance  of  the  nation,  and  points  to  the  garden  as 
an  addition  to  our  civilisation.  Englishmen  are  sincerely  attached  to 
all  that  is  connected  with  the  garden,  from  the  humblest  artisan  who 
cultivates  his  “  Geranium  ”  to  the  lord  with  his  pretentious  hothouses. 
The  occupation  is  an  elevating  one  ;  the  work  of  a  gardener  is  honest 
and  his  wages  are  well  earned.  (Cheers.)  He  who  makes  the  character 
of  a  God-fearing  man  is  he  who  reveres  the  beauties  of  Nature.  The 
taste  for  flowers,  he  continued,  was  an  exquisite  one,  but  he  hardly 
knew  what  to  say  when  everybody  was  with  him,  as  in  his  profession 
he  was  more  used  to  be  contradicted.  He  was  convinced,  however,  that 
there  was  a  no  more  honest  and  noble  science  than  horticulture,  a 
science  that  whatever  it  touches  it  adorns.  He  knew  he  was  speaking 
in  the  presence  of  many  a  cultivator,  in  whose  hands  a  common  thing 
becomes  a  thing  of  beauty.  He  would,  in  conclusion,  couple  with  the 
toast  the  name  of  Sir  Oswald  Mosley,  who  gave  much  attention  to  both 
agriculture  and  horticulture,  and  whom  he  hoped  would  live  long  to 
pursue  their  progress.  (Cheers.) 
Sir  Oswald  Mosley,  Bart.,  in  reply,  said  that  for  a  certain  period 
of  his  life  there  was  nothing  he  detested  more  than  horticulture  and 
botany,  as  his  grandfather  was  a  great  botanist,  and  was  in  the  habit  of 
taking  him  round  the  garden  in  order  to  initiate  him  in  the  study  of 
botany,  which  in  those  days  he  did  not  appreciate.  Since,  however,  he 
had  grown  up  and  had  a  garden  of  his  own  he  had  taken  a  great  interest 
in  horticulture,  and  thought  one  of  the  chief  features  that  marked  its 
progress  was  the  growing  interest  that  was  taken  in  gardening  amongst 
cottagers.  He  was  pleased  to  see  how  keen  these  people  were  getting 
over  showing.  Sir  Oswald  went  on  to  tell  an  amusing  story  about  a 
man  he  knew  who  used  to  keep  dogs.  On  meeting  him  not  long  since, 
Sir  Oswald  asked  him  if  he  had  still  got  his  dogs.  “Oh,  no,”  replied 
the  man.  “  My  old  woman  has  gone  in  for  flowers, and  so  the  dogs  have 
had  to  go.”  The  working  populace  now,  instead  of  spending  their  time 
iu  the  public  house,  are  taking  more  interest  in  gardening.  He  thought 
cottage  flower  shows  deserved  every  encouragement,  and  amongst  others 
who  were  great  upholders  of  them  he  would  mention  the  names  of  Lord 
and  Lady  Warwick,  who  were  taking  a  commendable  interest  in  village 
flower  shows  and  kindred  institutions.  Sir  Oswald  was  loudly  cheered 
on  expressing  the  hope  in  conclusion  that  he  would  have  the  pleasure  of 
dining  with  them  again. 
Arnold  Moss,  Esq.,  in  the  absence  of  C.  Czarnikow,  Esq.,  gave  the 
“  Committee  and  Stewards,”  and  Bpoke  highly  of  the  work  of  both  these 
bodies,  also  referring  in  commendable  terms  to  the  auxiliaries  of 
Wolverhampton  and  Worcester,  both  of  which  had  done  so  well.  It 
gave  him  much  pleasure  to  couple  with  the  toast  the  name  of  N.  N. 
Sherwood,  Esq.,  whose  work  in  connection  with  the  Institution  everyone 
knew. 
At  this  point  the  Secretary  read  out  the  following  list  of  subscribers — 
Her  Majesty  the  Queen,  £25  ;  Messrs.  Rothschild,  £105  ;  the  Chairman, 
Lord  Lathom,  £25  ;  N.  N.  Sherwood,  Esq.,  £105 ;  ditto,  Stewards’ 
list,  £125  ;  Lord  Burton,  £52  10s.  ;  Messrs.  Yeitch  &  Sons,  £26  5s.  ; 
Walter  Cobb,  Esq.,  £112  5s.  ;  Sir  Oswald  Mosley,  £10  ;  ditto,  annual 
subscription,  £10;  Duke  of  Bedford,  £50;  Baron  Schroder,  £25; 
Sir  Trevor  Lawrence,  £21  ;  Mr.  W.  Bennett,  £21  ;  Dickson’s,  Chester, 
£10  10s.  ;  W.  Thompson,  Esq.,  £15  15s.  ;  John  Cory,  Esq.,  £25  ;  ditto, 
annual  subscription,  £3  3s.  ;  Viscount  Powerscourt,  £10  10s.  ;  W. 
Mackay,  £25  ;  J.  H.  White,  Worcester  Auxiliary,  £60 ;  Wolverhampton 
Auxiliary,  £60  ;  Arnold  Moss,  Esq ,  £5  5s.  ;  Fisher,  Son  &  Sibray, 
£5  5s.  ;  Judge  Philbrick,  £5  5s.  ;  making,  with  the  sums  already 
acknowledged,  a  total  of  £2180,  the  announcement  of  which  was 
received  with  prolonged  cheering. 
N.  N.  Sherwood,  Esq., returned  thanks  on  behalf  of  the  Committee 
and  Stewards,  and  said  that  Mr.  Veitch  had  already  touched  on  the 
subjects  which  showed  how  well  the  work  was  being  carried  on.  As 
one  of  the  Stewards,  he  had  this  year  approached  a  new  circle  of  friends 
— namely,  his  Freemason  friends,  and  with  the  usual  liberality  of 
members  of  that  body,  right  nobly  they  had  responded  to  the  call  ;  he, 
therefore,  took  this  opportunity  of  thanking  them,  especially  as  they 
were  honoured  by  the  Presidency  of  the  second  greatest  Mason  in 
England  (cheers).  He  (Mr.  Sherwood)  had  never  missed  attending  the 
annual  dinner  for  twenty-five  years.  On  his  next  birthday  he  would 
attain  the  age  of  fifty  years,  and  had  decided  to  commemorate  the 
occasion  by  subscribing  100  guineas  instead  of  his  usual  sum  of  25 
(cheers).  He  would  conclude  by  thanking  his  Lordship  on  behalf  of 
the  Committee  for  coming  amongst  them  that  evening. 
The  Right  Hon.  Viscount  Powerscourt  next  rose,  and  said  he 
had  been  reserved  the  greatest  honour  in  being  allowed  to  propose 
the  health  of  the  Chairman,  who  was  a  schoolfellow  of  his  at  Eton,  and 
he  knew  of  the  good  work  he  had  done  since  that  time  in  the  interests 
of  horticulture.  After  making  some  interesting  references  to  the  con¬ 
dition  of  horticulture  in  his  own  country — Ireland,  his  Lordship  went 
on  to  say  how  glad  he  was  to  hear  that  the  subscription  was  a  record 
one.  Everyone  who  possessed  a  garden  should  become  a  subscriber  to 
this  Institution,  as  gardeners  deserved  every  encouragement,  and  though 
they  had  made  a  record,  he  hoped  it  would  in  the  future  increase  still 
further.  It  was  easy  to  see  the  widening  interest  that  was  being  taken 
in  gardening,  but  as  far  as  Ireland  was  concerned,  he  wished  the  people 
would  take  more  interest  in  it  than  is  now  the  case.  His  Lordship 
dwelt  at  some  length  on  his  own  hobby  in  gardening — growing  Conifers, 
June  4,  1896, 
and  concluded  by  giving  the  health  of  the  Earl  of  Lathom,  which  was 
received  with  much  enthusiasm. 
His  Lordship,  in  reply,  thanked  those  present,  and  congratulated 
them  on  the  excellent  subscription  list,  with  the  hope  that  next  year  it 
would  be  increased  fourfold.  He  went  on  to  speak  of  the  various  phases 
of  gardening,  including  his  own  idea  of  horticulture — namely,  collecting 
seed  and  plants  from  all  parts  of  the  world  and  experimenting  with,  an 
occupation  which  gave  him  infinite  pleasure.  His  Lordship  concluded 
by  adding  that  he  had  seen  many  a  dinner  table,  but  never  one  more 
beautifully  decorated  than  the  one  before  him,  and  sat  down  amidst 
prolonged  cheering. 
The  healths  of  the  Secretary  and  Treasurer  (Messrs.  G.  J.  Ingram 
and  H.  J.  Veitch)  were  drunk  with  fervour,  and  an  excellent  programme 
of  music,  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Herbert  Schartau,  rendered  able 
assistance  in  making  up  a  most  enjoyable  evening. 
A  WEEK  IN  LONDON. 
Some  gardeners  enjoy  the  privilege  of  an  annual  week’s  holiday  ; 
others  less  fortunate  do  not.  In  this  respect  I  am  one  of  the  lucky  ones, 
and  though  the  garden  of  which  I  have  charge  is  small,  old-fashioned, 
and  perhaps  insignificant,  yet  thanks  to  the  thoughtfulness  of  a  consi¬ 
derate  employer  (would  there  were  more  of  such  I)  I  am  asked  as  each 
summer  rolls  round,  “  Where  I  think  of  spending  my  holiday.”  As  all 
readers  are  doubtless  aware,  the  facilities  of  the  average  provincial 
gardener  for  visiting  the  metropolis  are  very  meagre  in  spite  of  cheap 
and  quick  railway  travelling,  so  that  the  trip  was  not  decided  on  till 
after  much  premeditation.  “  A  week’s  holiday  at  bedding  time !  ” 
Some  gardeners  will  say  “  Impossible.”  But  it  was  possible  with  me, 
as  bedding  in  our  garden  is  not  the  important  item  it  was  ten  years  ago. 
Green  turf  reigns  in  the  place  of  carpet  designs,  and  herbaceous  plants 
to  a  great  extent  have  superseded  “  Geraniums  ”  and  such  like. 
The  continued  dry  weather  worried  me  it  is  true,  and  I  had  some 
misgivings  about  leaving  ;  but  to  wait  for  rain  would  mean  missing  the 
Temple  Show  ;  so  giving  a  long  list  of  instructions  to  my  right  hand  man 
(I  might  also  add  left  hand  too,  as  my  other  assistant  is  a  boy),  I  deter¬ 
mined  to  risk  it,  and  carry  out  my  intention  of  “a  week  in  London." 
Like  the  proverbial  “  birds  of  a  feather,”  gardeners  like  to  flock,  or  at 
least  spend  holidays  together  ;  hence  a  chat  with  a  horticultural  friend 
similarly  situated,  and  the  decision  to  visit  in  company  the  sights  of  the 
great  metropolis. 
A  long  walk  to  the  station,  and  a  slow,  decidedly  slow,  journey  on  a 
local  railway  preceded  the  more  pleasant  ride  on  the  main  line  express. 
Vegetation  everywhere  looked  charming,  but  want  of  rain  was 
noticeable.  On  through  the  agricultural  districts  of  the  Midlands, 
a  short  pause  at  Leicester,  then  on  again  to  Bedford,  and  thence 
through  a  maze  of  market  gardens,  also  showing  signs  of  drought,  till 
eventually  the  iron  monster  steamed  slowly  under  the  great  arcn  of 
St.  Pancras,  having,  as  my  companion  remarked,  “  run  in  to  the  minute.” 
Where  we  lodged,  and  how  we  slept,  or  at  least  tried,  for  countrymen 
rarely  sleep  much  in  London,  matters  nothing,  so  having  made  up  our 
programme  we  commenced  next  morning  with 
A  Peep  at  the  Parks. 
There  is  much  to  interest  a  rustic  in  a  London  park.  Take  Hyde 
Park,  for  instance,  with  its  Vanity  Fair,  its  Rotten  Row,  its  variety  of 
tashion,  and  latterly  its  cyclists.  Then  there  are  the  stump  orators, 
agitators,  socialists,  and  what  not  with  their  motley  crews  of  listeners — 
all  supplying  food  for  character  study— and  if  that  rustic  be  a  gardener 
there  are  the  avenues  of  trees,  the  flowers,  and  general  landscape — 
features  to  suit  his  professional  taste.  We  regretted  the  spring  flowers 
were  over,  and  the  summer  bedding  not  completed  ;  but  we  had  heard  of 
the  former  through  the  Journal  of  Horticulture,  and  hope  in  due  course 
to  hear  of  the  latter  through  the  same  medium.  Years  had  passed  since 
our  last  visit  to  toe  metropolis  ;  no  wonder,  then,  we  were  surprised  at 
the  strides  that  have  been  made  in  providing  public  gardens — the  work 
of  the  County  Council  we  learnt.  All  honour,  then,  to  a  body  that  has 
been  the  means  of  transforming  unsightly  corners  that  produced  nothing 
but  rank  weeds  and  brickbats  into  well-kept  gardens.  Gloomy,  depress¬ 
ing-looking  graveyards,  too,  so  conspicuous  in  Dickens’  day,  where 
children  no  longer  peer  wonderingly  through  the  railings  at  the  deathly 
looking  places,  but  pass  inside,  and  play  about  the  well-kept  walks,  and 
enjoy  the  now  cheerful  aspect. 
Regent’s  Park  did  not  seem  to  have  altered  much.  The  Botanic 
Gardens  looked  about  the  same— from  the  outside  (it  was  not  Bank 
Holiday,  so  the  payment  of  6d.  would  not  admit  us,  gardeners  though 
we  were).  We  remembered  the  famous  shows  held  there  in  bygone 
days,  and  inquired  how  they  progressed.  “  They’ve  gone  down,”  replied 
our  informant.  “  At  the  last  summer  show,  and  you  remember  what 
they  used  to  be  like,  three  parts  of  the  classes  were  unrepresented.” 
“How  was  it?”  A  shake  of  the  head  was  the  only  reply.  “  Is  it  a 
mystery  ?  ”  Another  shake  followed,  and  we,  like  many  other  horticul¬ 
turists,  were  left  “  in  the  dark.”  A  run  round  the  Zoo  followed,  and, 
leaving  out  the  animals,  the  gardens  themselves  were  worthy  of  the 
visit.  We  had  heard  of  new  parks  in  the  suburbs,  such  as  Peckham, 
Dulwich,  Waterlow,  and  so  forth,  and  though  the  gardener’s  zeal  would 
have  led  us  to  visit  them  lack  of  time  forbade  it. 
The  Temple  Show. 
I  need  not  describe  it,  as  every  reader  of  the  Journal  knows  of  its 
magnitude,  its  variety,  and,  generally  speaking,  its  excellence.  In  many 
