554 
JOURNAL  OF  ltOUTiOULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
Jttne:-18,  1806. 
though  there  must  of  necessity  in  this  world  of  wondrous  variety 
be  individuals  who  fail  to  see  the  appropriateness  of  this  item  or 
that  in  the  programme,  yet  it  is  not  unreasonable  to  assume  that  the 
experienced  managers  of  the  shows  may  be  expected  to  know  what  is 
best  to  provide  under  the  circumstances  to  meet  the  object  in  view. 
The  immediate  object,  it  may  be  conceded  at  once,  is  to  attract 
tthe  people — to  afford  them  plaasure  in  its  pnreet  form  by  the 
enjoyment  of  flowers  of  the  beat  that  skill  can  produce,  with,  in 
addition,  entertainment  that  is  harmless  in  itaelf,  and  which  gives 
satisfaction  equal  to  insuring  a  larger  measure  of  patronage 
(weather  permitting)  when  the  gala  days  come  round  again. 
Continued  success  would  only  be  possible  by  the  thoughtful 
provision  of  prudent  men,  whose  first  desire  is  the  happiness  and 
well-being  of  the  community.  That  they  succeed  in  winning  the 
approval,  not  of  one  section  of  the  citizens  and  inhabitants  of  the 
surrounding  district,  but  practically  of  all  sections,  is  the  best 
testimony  that  the  managers  of  these  annual  demonstrations 
exercise  great  discretion  in  the  fulfilment  of  their  self-imposed 
duties,  which  are  discharged  voluntarily  for  the  good  of  the  city 
and  the  satisfaction  of  thousands  who  pass  the  portals  of  its  ancient 
gates.  Certain  it  is  that  persons  of  all  ranks,  professions,  occupa¬ 
tions,  and  denominations  visit  the  floral  and  musical  exhibitions  and 
enjoy  them,  and  all  who  were  at  the  luncheon  last  year  will 
remember  the  eloquent  speech  of  the  Dean  of  York  in  approval 
of  what  was  done  on  these  festive  occasions,  and  of  the  benefits 
accruing  therefrom. 
The  immediate  object,  as  we  have  said,  is  to  attract  the  people 
and  satisfy  them  ;  but  the  ultimate  object,  to  cite  from  the  rules 
of  the  Society,  is  “  to  give  encouragement  to  floriculture,  to 
increase  the  prosperity  of  th9  City  of  York,  and  to  aid  the  funds 
of  the  York  charities.1'  This  citation  forestalls  the  objection  that 
is  sometimes  heard  to  the  effect  that  horticulture  is  not  considered, 
or  its  advancement  fostered,  because  of  the  accessories  to  the  shows. 
As  a  matter  of  fact,  horticulture  has  the  first  and  greatest  con¬ 
sideration.  As  convincing  evidence  of  this  it  has  only  to  be 
remembered  that  on  the  present  occasion  the  amount  allocated  for 
prizes  in  classes  for  fruits,  flowers,  and  plants  amounts  to  £700. 
Nothing  approaching  this  sum  is  devoted  to  music  and  other 
accessories.  Horticulture  is  the  first,  foremost,  and  predominating 
feature  ;  and  who  will  say  that  the  large  amounts  distributed  in 
prizes  year  by  year  have  not  had  a  stimulating  tendency  in  the 
direction  of  the  best  cultivation  that  can  be  represented  by  the 
art  of  man  ?  Again,  is  it  conceivable  that  the  effort  thus  excited 
and  the  interest  in  plants  and  flowers  awakened  and  sustained  have 
had  no  effect  on  the  industry  of  horticulture  ?  Once  more,  is  it 
not  reasonable  to  suppose  that  out  of  the  hundreds  of  thousands  of 
persons  who  have  been  drawn  to  York  by  the  attractions  provided 
on  the  occasions  of  these  exhibitions,  and  who  have  passed  through 
the  brilliantly  furnished  marquees,  that  some,  and  even  many,  have 
for  the  first  time  been  impressed  with  the  oharms  of  plants  and 
flowers,  and  determined  according  to  their  means  to  indulge  in 
their  cultivation  ?  It  is  well  known  that  this  has  been  the  case, 
and  that  there  has  been  a  material  accession  to  the  ranks  of 
floriculturists  accordingly. 
Then  again  there  is  another  and  not  the  least  important  aspect 
to  consider — the  benefits  that  the  gatherings  have  conferred  on 
objects  than  which  none  is,  or  can  be,  more  worthy  of  support, 
the  succouring  of  the  poor  and  indigent,  and  the  comforting  of  the 
afflicted.  By  and  through  the  enterprise  of  the  managers  of  the 
York  galas  the  city  charities  have  been  enriched  by  many  hundreds 
of  pounds — if  we  mistake  not,  to  the  amount  of  £2400.  This  is 
the  reward,  and  a  noble  reward  it  is  to  those  gentlemen  who  have 
worked  in  such  a  whole-hearted  manner  in  making  the  annual 
gatherings  so  brilliantly  successful  as  they  have  undoubtedly  become. 
As  a  matter  of  fact  summer  flowers  shown  alone — silent  shows 
— no  music  or  anything  else  to  hold  and  attract  the  people,  would 
with  few  exceptions  be  commercial  failures,  and  in  no  case  could 
anything  like  the  results  be  achieved  for  the  support  of  such  excel¬ 
lent  objects  as  are  accomplished  by  a  combination  of  forces  as  are 
provided  at  York  and  other  provincial  centres.  Even  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Society  at  its  brilliant  shows  in  the  Temple  Gardens 
cannot  dispense  with  music,  and  it  is  certain  the  people  would  not 
flock  to  the  Crystal  Palace  Rose  shows  in  such  numbers  as  they  do 
if  there  were  no  other  attractions  beyond  the  Roses.  They  enjoy 
the  Roses  and  something  more,  and  attend  the  shows  the  better 
when  it  is  annownoed  that  “  ths  grounds  are  to  be  illuminated 
an  euphemistic  rendering  of  the  word  that  would  almost  seem  to 
frighten  some  people — “fireworks.” 
We  know  it  is  conceded  by  some  earnest  horticulturists  that 
good  music  is  an  appropriate  accompaniment  to  a  flower  show,  but 
they  think  that  this  should  suffice.  Why,  if  such  friends  enjoy 
music,  and  therefore  like  to  have  it,  should  they  wish  to  limit  the 
pleasures  of  others  whose  tastes  lead  them  to  desire  this  and  some¬ 
thing  more  ?  So  long  as  the  open  air  entertainments  are  amusing 
or  exhilarating  in  a  harmless  way,  as  they  are  aod  must  be,  have 
not  the  multitudes  who  enjoy  them  an  equal  claim  to  do  so  with 
those  who  find  pleasure  in  another  direction  ?  As  a  matter  of  fact, 
and  of  business,  the  promoters  of  flower  shows  desire  to  make  them 
financially  successful,  not  for  any  personal  gain,  but  for  carrying 
out  undertakings  that  they  conceive  to  be  good,  and  they  resort  to 
what  they  believe  the  best  means  for  accomplishing  their  object. 
The  York  shows  have  become  famous  in  consequence  of  the 
broad-minded  policy  that  has  been  adopted  by  the  managers, 
among  whom  are  included  the  most  prominent  citizens.  They  are 
patronised  by  His  Royal  Highness  the  Prince  of  Wales  and  the 
nobility  and  gentry  of  the  district,  while  the  Chief  Magistrate,  the 
Lord  Mayor  of  the  city,  is  the  President  of  the  Council.  They  are 
visited  and  approved  by  the  leading  families  of  the  ci  y  and 
surrounding  neighbourhood,  while  they  attract  horticulturists  from 
various  parts  of  the  kingdom.  The  show  of  the  present  week  is 
invested  with  more  than  ordinary  interest,  seeing  that  it  is  visited 
by  representatives  of  the  Council  and  Committees  of  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Society.  It  is  fitting  that  this  should  be  so,  as  it  was 
at  York  last  year  that  desires  were  expressed  that  the  chief 
Horticultural  Society  of  the  kingdom  should  not  restrict  its  action 
to  London,  but  should  in  some  way  recognise  provincial  efforts  and 
provincial  work  of  the  kind,  for  which  the  Society  exists  to  foster. 
The  Journal  of  Horticulture  was  desired  to  bring  the  matter  before 
tha  public,  and  in  consequence  of  what  appeared  the  York  officials 
were  not  alow  in  inviting  the  Rojal  to  pay  them  a  friendly  visit — 
an  invitation  which  seems  to  have  been  readily  accepted. 
Whatever  may  be  the  outcome  of  this  pioneer  visit,  it  is  surely 
well  that  London  should  shake  hands  with  York  as  well  as  with 
other  provincial  horticultural  centres  from  time  to  time,  if  only  as 
symbolical  of  the  existence  of  a  spirit  of  unity  between  the  Fellows 
of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  and  friends  and  fellow  workers 
who  arc  striving  for  the  same  objecte  in  different  parts  of  the 
kingdom.  That  the  Society  is  most  willing  to  help  on  the  advance¬ 
ment  of  horticulture  in  any  practicable  way  and  over  the  widest 
possible  area  there  cannot  be  a  doubt,  and  that  the  visit  of  official 
representatives  of  the  chief  Society  is  appreciated  in  York  is 
manifest  by  the  warm  welcome  accorded  them.  They  were  enter¬ 
tained  at  an  excellent  dinner  by  the  Gala  Society  on  Tuesday 
night  at  Harker’s  Hotel,  Sir  Joseph  Terry,  the  Chairman,  pre¬ 
siding,  supported  by  the  Lord  Mayor.  Among  those  present  at 
th,e  reception  dinner  were  Sir  Trevor  Lawrence,  Bart.,  Rev. 
W.  Wilks,  and  Messrs.  P.  Crowley,  S.  Courtauld,  T.  B.  Haywood, 
H.  Selfe-Leonard,  W.  Thistlel on-Dyer,  Harry  J.  Veitch,  Malcolm 
Dunn,  and  James  Hudson,  These  composed  the  deputation,  and 
as  will  be  seen,  the  Council,  with  the  Scientific,  Fruit,  Floral,  and 
Orchid  Committees,  were  represented.  Mr.  J.  Wright,  one  of 
the  York  Judges,  and  Mr.  J.  H.  Yeitch,  both  members  of  R.H.S. 
Committees,  were  also  included  among  the  guests,  the  party 
present  numbering  about  thirty.  The  President  and  Secretary 
of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  are  the  guests  of  the  Lord 
Mayor  at  the  Mansion  House,  the  remaining  members  composing 
the  deputation  are  having  every  provision  made  for  them  at 
Harker’s  Hotel  as  the  guests  of  the  York  Society. 
