Deoc-mbar  17,  1886. 
JOURNAL  OU  HORTIGULTDRE-  AND  COTTAGE  QARDENEli, 
577 
31,  Exhibitions. — As  far  as  possible  there  ehouM  be  a  con 
tinuous  series  of  exhibitions,  high  class  concerts,  conversaziones, 
lectnres,  debates,  &o.,  so  as  to  fnlly  utilise  tha  premises. 
32,  Rot/al  Courts. — The  patronage  of  Her  Majesty  to  be 
solicited. 
32a,  Loan  Collections. — Six  Courts  being  reaerved  upon  the 
ground  floor  (ahown  in  sectipn  lines  upon  ground  floor  plan)  for 
the  reception  of  a  loan  collection  if  members  of  the  Royal  Family 
should  be  pleased  to  entrust  one  to  the  Institute. 
33,  City  Courts. — Thirteen  or  more  Courts  should  be  reserved 
upon  the  ground  floor  for  the  City  companies,  who  would  be  asked 
to  furnish  them  with  exhibits  illustrative  of  their  several  trades  ; 
or  those  Courts  might  be  let  to  leading  manufacturers  or  others, 
every  facility  being  given  to  them  for  furthering  their  business. 
These  Courts,  it  is  estimated,  would  let  at  an  annual  rental  of  £50 
each. 
,  34,  Hospital '  Courts. — Certain  Courts  should  be  appropriated 
by  the  City  charities  at  a  reduced  rental,  donation  boxes  being 
p’aced  in  each. 
35,  Charity  ;  TJi/ree  Days'  Festival. — Apart  from  its  expository 
uses  as  an  exhibition  ball  for  everything  pertaining  to  horticulture, 
metropolitan  and  other  trades  and  charities,  the  Institute  would  be 
farther  dedicated  to  the  cause  of  charity,  as  periodically  special 
efforts  would  be  made  to  augment  the  funds  of  the  Gardeners’ 
Benevolent  and  Orphan  Societies,  a  three  days’  festival  being 
organised  every  year  for  thisr  purpose. 
3G;  Sa'c  of  Work :  ChiMren's  Help. — The  co-operation  of  every¬ 
one  would  be  invited,  lady  secretaries  being  appointed  to  further 
the  work  amongst  children  by  interesting  them  in  plants  and 
flowers,  and  by  encouraging  them  to  make  articles  for  the  sale  of 
work  held  at  the  festival.  Anyone  sending  goods  of  the  value  of 
2i.  Gi.  to  the  feitival  for  this  sale  of  work  should  be  admitted  free 
on  each  day, 
37,  Distribution  of  Flowers  and  Fruit  after  Shows  — All  flowers 
and  fruit  sent  for  exhibition  should  be  distributed  by  the  lady 
secretaries  at  the  close  of  each  show  amongst  the  metropolitan 
charities.  Exhibitors  be  specially  asked  to  consent  to  this  as  far  as 
possible,  in  aid  of  the  suffering  and  poor. 
38,  National  Festivals,— Oa  St.  Andrew’s,  S^  Patrick’s,  and 
St.  David’s  days  respectively,  special  concerts  might  be  given,  and 
as  far  as  possible  exhibitions  be  held  representative  of  Scotland, 
Ireland,  and  Wales.  On  the  occasion  of  grand  concerts  all  the 
ouiti  would  be  concealed  by  drapery,  red  curtains  being  drawn 
a  iross  the  front  of  each. 
Railway  arrangements  would  be  made  with  the  railway 
companies  for  special  trains  at  special  rates,  so  as  to  affoid  facilities 
for  our  country  friends  to  visit  the  metropolis,  and  at  the  same 
time  to  help  the  funds  of  the  charities  by  contributing  to  the 
appeals  which  would  be  made  to  them  during  the  three  days  of  the 
festival. 
Having  briefly  outlined  the  formation,  establishment,  and 
rnaintenance  of  the  Institute,  it  now  remains  to  pat  the  project 
“  upon  its  mettle,”  and  as  it  is  imperative  that  action  should  be 
taken  at  once — and  someone  must  take  the  initiative — I  propose  to 
wait  up6n  certain  representative  gentlemen  and  submit  the  scheme 
to  them,  and  in  doing  so  I  am  prepared  to  find  that  tome  of  my 
proposals  may  rt quire  to  be  more  or  less  modified. 
The  main  points  I  firmly  believe  are  attainable,  and  I  look  with 
great  confidence  to  the  results  of  the  Yictoria  Rose  and  other  floral 
festivals  held  simultaneously  all  over  the  land  as  giving  expression 
to  the  nation’s  loyalty  to  our  Queen,  and  show  its  love  of  horti¬ 
culture. 
Here  it  an  opportunity  for  everyone,  from  the  cottager  to  the 
nobleman,  to  give  expressions  of  fidelity  to  our  beloved  Queen. 
Such  a  gift  would  find  a  welcome  ia  the  heart  of  the  greatest  living 
mother. 
That  considerable  organisation  is  involved  is  obvious,  but  no 
work  of  such  magnitude  was  ever  accomplished  without  it — 
“  United  we  stand,  divided  we  fall.”  If  we  sink  every  other  con¬ 
sideration  and  join  hand  in  hand,  the  Horticultural  Institute  will 
surely  be  founded. 
Horticulture  bar  advanced  and  prospered  during  he?  reign,  and 
how  could  her  children  more  expressively  “  rise  up  and  call  her 
blessed”  than  by  establishing  a  permanent  Home  for  Horticulture 
in  grateful  memory  of  her  glorious  reigu  ? — James  L.  Wood, 
Oakleigh  Park,  Whetstone. 
P.S. — I  purpose  dealing  further  with  the  financial  aspect  of  the 
scheme  at  an  early  date,  probably  in  your  next  issue. 
1  have  not  given  the  basement  plan.  Ic  contains  kitchens,  engine 
rooms,  store  rooms,  and  other  offices.  Of  course  the  plans  may 
require  modification  according  to  site,  the  general  arrangement* 
here  shown  would  be  a  convenient  one  for  the  purposes  con¬ 
templated.  I  certainly  can  see  where  improvements  might  be 
made  in  the  elevation.  The  time,  ho  wever,  at  my  command  just 
now  is  insufficient  for  me  to  give  further  thought  to  it  at  present. 
-J.  L.  W. 
I  WAS  amused  to  read  in  the  note  oa  this  subjeot  from  Alba  ”  the 
engge»tion  that  gardeners  need  a  place  (la  London)  where  they  could 
find  clean  and  comfortable  lodgings  and  necessary  food  at  moderate 
prices.  This  is  putting  the  proposed  Home  on  the  level  of  an  ordinary 
ian  or  boarding  house.  Of  all  places  in  the  world  Barely  London  already 
sapplies  such  requirements  to  everybody,  gardeners  included,  in  an 
eminent  degree.  “  Alba’s  ”  idea  seems  to  be,  not  a  home  for  all  descrip¬ 
tions  of  central  horticultural  societies,  but  rather  the'  providing  of  a  sort 
of  club  for  young  gardeners.  The  result  of  such  provision  would  be  to 
attract  young  men  from  the  country  to  London  in  the  expectation  that 
such  a  club  or  home  would  be  a  ready  means  of  furnishing  them  with 
situations.  To  do  that  would  be  a  sad  mistake. 
The  sooner  puerile  sentiment  is  dissociated  from  any  propositions  the 
better,  and  all  this  talk  about  gardeners  being  able  to  associate  with 
one  another,  and  that  is  excellent  in  their  respec  .ive  spheres,  would  be 
and  ia  nonsense  when  applied  to  London,  wbic  i  is  not  the  place  to 
bring  gardeners  to  by  any  means.  Proposals  rela  ingto  “Homes,” large 
or  small,  may  be  acceptable  to  some  readers,  butth  sy  will  be  bat  so  much 
crying  in  the  wilderness.  There  is  just  about  as  m  ch prospect  of  getting 
money  to  carry  out  some  enthusiasts’  exalted  otions  as  there  is  of 
finding  the  millennium.  Sentiment  is  beautiful  but  common  sense  is 
practical,  and  if  all  suggestions  relating  to  horti<  ulturists  honouring  of 
the  Queen’s  long  reign  next  year  be  based  on  co  omon  sense,  then  only 
practical  ones  will  be  heard  of. — A.  D. 
[We  like  to  give  all  sides  a  hearing,  and  if  'opositions  are  merely 
fanciful  they  receive  their  quietus  and  are  done  ith.  We  fear  London 
is  about  the  worst  place  in  England  for  a  garde  ers’  club  and  hostelry. 
If  one  were  wanted  and  could  be  supported,  we  suspect  it  would  have 
been  established  long  ago.j 
Akotheh  Suggestion 
I  CANNOT  but  agree  with  Mr.  Wells,  on  pa  (611,  that  “something 
of  a  permanent  character  should  be  done  by  tbi  gardening  community, 
&c.”  I  think  also  for  the  horticultural  commu  aity  as  a  body  over  the 
whole  in  the  British  Isles,  and  if  so  thought  advr  jable  in  the  whole  of  the 
Bi'ithh  possessions,  whereby  our  rising  8uccei8<  rs  may  have  a  memento 
of  the  Victorian  era  (with  so  long  and  prosperoi  sa  reign)  always  before 
them  in  a  prominent  position.  We  have  our  Yeitch’s,  Turner’s, 
Banksian  and  other  medals,  to  exhibits  and  ab  lities  of  excellence,  and 
sjcieties’  cups,  medals  and  certificates  of  these  societies’  exhibitors.  But 
we  have  a  vast  army  who  have  never  had,  and  may  never  have  a  chance 
to  test  their  abilities  publicly,  and  who  also  are  placed  in  positions  of 
inequality.  True  the  Koyal  Horticultural  Society  provides  examinations, 
but  very  few  worthy  men  can  excel  In  these  amongst  so  many. 
I  would  suggest  that  a  large  bo*iy  of  horticulturists,  with  the  Boyal 
Horticultural  and  other  such  bodies  combined,  be  appointed  to  formulate 
a  scheme  which  would  provide  annual,  or  other  examinations,  embracing 
a  general  course  of  practical  horticulture  iu  a  series  of  years.  Certificates 
of  efficiency  that  might  be  awarded  might  further  be  signed  by  some  or 
all  of  the  candidates,  previous  and  present  employers,  or  chiefs,  under 
whom  they  may  have  served,  these  certificates  to  bs  looked  upon  as  a 
horticulturist’s  indentures, 
1  think  a  Home  o;'  Horticulture  is  needed  In  which  to  bring  our 
national  societies  together  in  one  meeting  place  in  some  part  of  London 
of  easy  access.  It  would  be  a  fitting  place  for  many  of  the  horticultural 
fraternity  to  combine  pleasure  with  business  (especially  those  from  a 
distance),  and  ample  in  scope  to  suit  all  tastes. — A.  Stukt. 
GOVERNMENT  HOUSE  AND  GARDENS. 
TRINIDAD. 
Government  House,  unrivalled  in  its  situation,  is  newly 
centrally  placed  in  the  Botanic  Gardens,  comprising  about  sixty 
acres  of  what  may  be  called  a  terrestrial  paradise.  Here  much  of 
the  plant  wealth  of  this  and  other  tropical  lands,  both  east  and  west, 
have  found  a  congenial  home.  The  House,  or  palace  as  it  is,  is  a 
j  substantial  stone  building  with  galleries  all  round,  where  one 
can  walk  or  rest  in  the  cool  breeze  shaded  from  the  sun.  The 
interior  is  always  beautifully  decorated  with  Palms,  Ferns,  and 
gorgeous  foliage  plants  supplied  from  the  gardens.  On  entering 
the  gardens,  many  Orchids  of  various  kinds  growing  au  naturel. in  a 
group  of  trees  are  conspicuous  by  their  beauty,  and  amongst  them 
is  to  be  seen  the  Mistletoe  Cactus,  depending  in  graceful  tufts, 
studded  with  white  berries. 
From  this  point  one  hardly  knows  what  to  admire  most;  but  a 
group  of  Cabbage  Palms,  with  grand  heads  tossing  far  up  in  the 
breeze,  are  very  beautiful.  On  the  centre  cf  the  lawn  is  a  fine 
specimen  of  the  Sacred  Fig,  Ficus  religiosa,  and  near  at  hand  ia  the 
Monkey-pot  Tree,  Leuythis.  Elais  Guineensis,  the  West  African  Oil 
Palm,  i*  represented  by  two  specimens  ;  bat  for  general  utility,  few 
Palms  are  more  commendable  than  Borassm  flabeiliformis,  from  the 
