m 
JOUn^%iL  OP  UOnTTGULTUkP  ANT)  COTTAGE)  OARDENEn, 
t>eceinber  I?,  189?;. 
Part  I. — The  Promotion  and  Formation. 
1,  The  Need. — The  need  for  a  metropolitan  horticultural  initi- 
tute  has  been  recognised  for  years,  each  succeeding  year  accentuating 
the  need,  until  this  year  we  find  from  all  parts  of  the  country 
letters  Aud  suggestions  for  its  early  establishment. 
2,  The  Opportunity. — No  better  monument  can  be  raised  to  per¬ 
petuate  the  memory  of  Her-  Majesty’s  beneficent  reign  than  the 
establishment  of  a  “  Home  of  Horticulture,”  a  “  Victoria  Palace,” 
or  “  Queen’s  Home  of  Horticulture.”  The  present  is  the  time  for 
its  inaaguration,  and  all  that  is  required  to  carry  the  scheme  is 
united  effort. 
3,  The  Start — The  first  step  appears  to  be  the  formation  of  a 
body  of  Trustees,  to  be  elected  from  the  Councils  of  the  Royal 
HorticultHral  and  other  societies,  whose  co-operation  is,  of  course, 
essential  ;  and  it  is  confidently  hoped  that  a  sufficient  number  of 
gentlemen  of  influence  may  be  induced  to  act  as  Trustees.  These 
gentlemen,  and  others,  should  be  solicited  to  give  the  start,  and 
also  to  appoint  the  Treasurer,  Secretary  2oro  tern.,  and  Banker. 
4,  Seaond  Step :  Deputation  to  the  Right  Hon.  the  Lord  Mayor. — 
A  deputation  from  the  Trustees  should  wait  upon  the  Right  Hon. 
the  Lord  Mayor,  and  lay  before  hi*  Lordship  the  needs  of  horticul¬ 
ture,  and  request  that  a  meeting  be  held  at  the  Mansion  House  to 
consider  the  desirability  of  founding  a  Metropolitan  Home  of 
Horticulture  in  honour  of  the  sixtieth  year  of  Her  Majesty’s  reign, 
and  to  decide  upon  the  most  suitable  site  for  it.  If  possible, 
H.R.II.  the  Prince  of  Wales  should  be  approached  respecting  this 
meeting. 
h,  Third  Step :  Rose  Festival  and  Banqtiet  at  the  Mansion  House. 
— The  Right  Hon.  the  Lord  Mayor  should  be  waited  upon  at  an 
early  date  and  petitioned  to  give  the  first  impulse  to  the  movement 
by  holding  a  Roie  festival  in  the  Egyptian  Hall,  upon  the  same 
lines  as  those  so  successfully  held  during  the  mayoralties  of  Sir 
J.  Whitaker  Ellis  and  Sir  David  Evans.  If  convenient,  this  would 
be  about  June  20tb,  1897.  The  Rose  festival  to  conclude  with  a 
banquet  in  aid  of  the  funds, 
6,  Fourth  Step:  Provincial  Rose  Festivals. — That  all  the  Horti¬ 
cultural  Societies  in  Great  Britain  be  communicated  with,  and 
urged  to  take  a  prominent  part  in  the  scheme  for  the  establishment 
of  the  Home  of  Horticulture  by  holding  Rose  Festivals  (Victoria 
Rose  Festivals)  about  June  20th,  or  other  most  convenient  date, 
on  behalf  of  the  Institution.  No  more  appropriate  exhibition  can 
be  held  on  that  day  than  one  of  Roses  (our  national  emblem)  ;  but 
the  details,  of  these  exhibitions  would  be  left  to  the  respective 
Committee*.  These  floral  festivals  might  all  conclude  with  a 
banquet  to  augment  the  fund*.  To  the  gifts  already  promised, 
and  special  large  donations  expected  (and  I  would  add  with  the 
earnest  trust  that  my  wish  may  be  acceded  to,  the  invaluable 
support  of  the  horticultural  papers),  may  there  be  added  the 
nation’s  affectionate  tribute  in  commemoration  of  our  beloved 
Queen’s  glorious  reign.  I  hope  the  horticultural  Press  will  open 
its  columns  for  subscriptions,  however  small,  with  a  kindly  word 
from  the  pen  of  a  ready  writer.  By  their  aid  in  this  united  effort 
I  feel  confident  success  will  be  ours,  with  a  balance  to  spare  to 
enable  us  to  add  to  the  tribute  by  a  gift  to  the  benevolent 
societie*. 
7,  Life  Governors. — Every  society  remitting  £50  from  its  Rose 
or  other  floral  festival  should  be  represented  by  one  Life  Governor, 
who  i'honld  be  elected  by  the  members  of  the  contributing  society. 
Associates. — Every  society  remitting  £25  from  its  floral 
festival  to  be  represented  by  one  Associate,  who  should  be  elected 
by  the  member*. 
3a,  Financial  Statements. — To  bo  prepared,  audited,  and  signed 
by  the  Truitees,  a  copy  being  sent  to  each  contributing  society. 
9,  Fifth  Stfji. — A  meeting  of  the  Trustees  should  bo  held  to 
receive  the  Secretary’s  report  of  the  result  of  the  Rose  and  other 
floral  festival*,  and  to  appoint  delegates. 
Part  II. — The  Establishment. 
10,  I'irsi  Step. — The  Secretary  to  summon  a  meeting  of  the 
General  Uouneil,  which  should  be  composed  of  the  Treasury  Board 
(Trustees),  Life  Governors?  and,  as  an  ex-ofiicio  member,  the 
Secretary,  to  consider  the  financial  position. 
11,  Second  Stej_>. — The  Secretary  would  summon  a  meeting  of 
the  Committee  of  “  Ways  and  Means  ”  to  report  procedure.  The 
“  Ways  and  Means  Committee  ”  should  be  composed  of  Associates 
and  Life  Governors  and  Secretary. 
12,  Third  Step. — The  start  having  been  made  by  the  Right  Hon, 
the  Lord  Mayor,  the  Koyal  Horticultural  Society,  and  the  400 
horticultural  societies,  ad  representing  horticulture,  a  deputation 
should  be  appointed  to  wait  upon  the  Masters  of  the  several  Livery 
Companies  of  the  City  to  solicit  their  co-operation,  and  the  appoint¬ 
ment  of  a  Life  Governor  to  the  General  Council  from  each  City 
Company  contributing  at  least  £50. 
13,  Fourth  Step. — The  General  Council  should  be  farther 
strengthened  by  the  admission  of  head  gardeners  at  half  the  nsHal 
qualificf.tion  fee  for  Life  Governors,  viz.,  £25.  ' 
14,  Fifth  Step — The  Ways  and  Means  Committee  should  be 
strengthened  by  the  admission  of  head  gardeners  at  half  the  usual 
qualification  fee  for  Associates — viz. — £12108. 
15,  Sixth  Step. — The  executive  body  having  been  fully  con¬ 
stituted,  a  general  meeting  should  be  called  by  the  Secretary  to 
formulate  rules,  determine  procedure,  and  to  appoint  a  Chairman 
and  Secretary  for  the  General  Council,  and  also  for  the  Ways  and 
Mean*  Committee.  It  will  be  seen  that,  by  these  means,  we 
should  secure  a  thoroughly  representative  constitution,  in  which  all 
j  uteres  ts  would  have  fair  consideration. 
Part  III.— Revenue, 
16,  First  Step. — The  financial  statement  having  been  sent  to 
each  contributing  society  or  body  (Clause  8a),  the  Secretary  shall 
forward  copy  of  rules  as  formulated  (Clause  15)  to  each  society 
and  body,  soliciting  the  support  and  co-operation  of  every  individual 
member  upon  the  following  basis  :  — 
17,  Fellows. — Any  lady  or  gentleman  can  be  enrolled  a  Fellow 
of  the  Institute  upon  payment  in  advance  of  an  annual  subscription 
of  Two  Guineas.  This  entitles  to  free  admission  to  every  horti¬ 
cultural  meeting  held  during  the  year  (except  the  Bmevolent 
Festivals  and  such  others  as  may  from  time  to  time  be  found 
neceisary  by  the  Council),  with  two  passes  to  reserved  seats  for 
each,  and  free  access  to  the  Library. 
18,  Members  — Any  lady  or  gentleman  can  become  a  member  of 
the  Institute  upon  payment  in  advance  of  21s.  The  membership 
gives  free  admission  to  all  horticultural  exhibitions  during  the 
year,  with  the  exceptions  above  alluded  to. 
19,  Subscribers.-  Any  lady  or  gentleman  who  aubscribes  lOs.  6d. 
per  annum  (in  advance)  should  be  furnished  with  a  coupon  admit¬ 
ting  to  fifteen  ordinary  horticultural  exhibitions  in  the  year. 
20,  Contributors. — Any  lady  or  gentleman  who  contribute* 
2s.  6d  per  annum  (in  advance)  should  receive  a  voucher  admitting 
to  three  ordinary  horticultural  exhibitions  in  the  year.  Ladies  and 
genJemen  resident  fifty  miles  and  beyond  from  London  should 
have  the  same  privileges  on  reduced  terms. 
21,  Admission  to  the  Public. — The  admission  to  the  public  is  fixed 
at  Is.  each  person  every  day,  excepting  on  special  occasions. 
22,  Gardeners'  Privileges. — All  accredited  gardeners  should  be 
permitted  to  participate  in  any  of  the  above  privileges  at  one-half 
the  usual  charge  for  Fellows  and  Associates,  and  have  also  the  use 
of  the  Gardeners’  Club  Room,  where  refreshments  might  be 
supplied  to  them  at  a  reduced  tariff. 
22a,  Exhibitions . — It  is  contemplated  that  prizes  should  prefer¬ 
ably  be  either  money  or  useful  articles,  together  with  special 
awards  for  meritorious  exhibits  which  have  not  obtained  prizes,  to 
encourage  cottagers  and  others.  Shows  of  wild  flowers,  exhibits 
representing  bee  culture,  and  all  similar  country  industrie*,  to  be 
periodiciUy  arranged. 
23,  Ti'adc  Support. — The  co-operation  of  the  horticultnral  trade 
should  be  solicited,  500  feet  run  in  the  galleries  being  reserved  for 
their  use  at  a  moderate  rental  ;  and  where  attendants  are  not 
necessary,  the  letter-boxes  would  be  cleared  daily  by  the  Secretary, 
and  all  communications  be  at  once  forwarded  by  post  to  the 
exhibitors.  Collecting  boxes  would  be  supplied  to  the  trade  on 
behalf  of  the  Gardeners’  Benevolent  and  Gardeners’  Orphan  Funds, 
such  boxes  being  collected  by  the  Secretary  seven  days  before  the 
annual  benevolent  festival. 
24,  Stewards  {Benevolent).  —  The  itewards  for  benevolent 
festivals  would  be  members  of  the  horticultural  trade,  and  be 
elected  from  those  whose  contribution  boxes  yielded  the  best 
results. 
25,  Stewards  ( Horticultural)  would  be  elected  by  the  General 
Council  in  recognition  of  special  service*  rendered,  preference 
being  given  to  gardener*. 
26,  Refreshments. — The  refreshment  department  would  be  let 
out  to  some  well-known  first-class  caterer  by  yearly  contract. 
27,  Music. — Musical  arrangements  would  be  made  with  the 
executive  ;  only  those  of  the  highest  class  would  be  considered. 
28,  Picture  GuUeriet  picture  gallery  would  be  rented, 
and  every  facility  given  by  the  staff  for  the  sale  of  pictures  and 
statuary  at  a  fixed  percentage. 
'29,  Eo'hibition  of  Appliances. — This  department  would  be  under 
the  control  of  the  executive  ;  apace  being  charged  for,  and 
assistance  given  to  further  the  interests  of  inventors  and  manu¬ 
facturers  at  a  fixed  percentage. 
30,  Horticultural  Papers  be  solicited  to  open  their  columns  for 
donations  t 
