December  28,  1897, 
JOURN^AL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
505 
A  HAPPY  FAMILY. 
It  would  be  difficult  to  imagine  any  assemblage  more  fully  entitled  to 
the  above  familiar  designation  than  that  of  INIr.  Sherwood  and  his  merry 
men  at  the  famous  Holborn  Restaurant  last  Saturday  evening.  A 
wonderful  place  would  this  centre  of  social  and  ceremonial  festivities  be 
regarded  by  some,  even  many,  of  our  readers  who  live  laborious,  though 
happy,  lives  in  the  quiet  solitudes  of  rural  Nature.  Let  them  fancy  a 
crowd  of  people  ascending  massive  marble  staircases,  flanked  with 
glistening  balustrades,  then  galleries  leading  to  the  right  and  left,  and  on 
each  side  of  these  galleries  noble  rooms.  Let  them  imagine  just  one  of 
those  rooms,  with  its  eight  pendent  “chandeliers,”  each  with  at  least 
thirty  “globes,”  through  which  shines  with  subdued  brilliancy  the 
electric  light  ;  and  as  if  these  were  not  enough  for  the  dissipation  of 
darkness,  let  them  further  imagine  rows  of  liranched  candle  “  sticks,” 
each  with  its  seven  illuminants,  along  the  tables,  and  then  let  them  again 
imagine  at  the  least  twenty  of  such  rooms,  with  as  many  “  parties  ”  of  not 
less  than  a  hundred,  and  thus  2000  diners  at  the  least  entertained  at  one 
and  the  same  time,  and  they  will  in  some  sense  be  able  to  appreciate  tbe 
difference  between  a  cottar’s  Saturday  night  in  lonely  happy  Arcadia  and 
social  “  life  in  London.” 
There  is  indeed  a  difference,  but  each  gathering,  of  few  or  many,  may 
be,  and  is,  in  instances  innumerable,  equally,  purely^’and  harmoniously 
enjoyable.  It  is  a  question  of  numbers.  In  this  particular  London  room 
a  table  runs  near  one  side  and  the  whole  of  its  length  ;  some  forty 
guests,  with  the  Chairman,  Mr.  N.  N.  Sherwood,  one  of  the  finest 
commercial  men  in  London  in  every  way,  in  the  centre.  Cross  tables 
extend  to  near  the  other  side,  with  twenty  rows  of  his  merry  men — 
some,  even  many,  grown  grey  during  their  long,  loyal,  and  honourable 
service  in  the  great  wholesale  seed  firm  of  Messrs.  Hurst  &  Son  ;  others 
of  varied  age,  down  to  the  boys  just  “  starting  life ’’from  school.  See 
Mr.  SherAvood  ffig.  86),  the  embodiment  of  this  great  firm,  greet  his 
respected  guests,  shake  hands  with  every  boy  and  every  man  when  his 
hand  can  reach  them,  accompanied  with  a  cheery  word  for  each,  and 
then  you  feel  and  know  that  tbe  gathering  is  indeed  a  “  happy  family.” 
See,  on  the  side  of  the  room  opposite  the  Chairman,  a  raised 
platform  with  its  pianoforte,  and  note  on  the  conclusion  of  the  repast’ 
vocalists  and  instrumentalists'^rise  from  the  crowd  at  the  Chairman’s  call 
and  discourse  sweet  music  in  joyous  strains  ;  then  must  you  l)e  assured 
that  among  this  great  band  of  workers  are  not  a  few  who  have,  most 
worthily  and  well,  cultivated  with  success  the  delightful  art  of  making 
others  feel  that  labour  is  not  an  irksome  task  to  all,  and  does  not  deaden 
the  susceptibilities  of  those  whose  services  are  appreciated. 
Note  the  Avarmth  of  the  reception  that  is  accorded  the  founder  of  the 
feast  as  he  rises  to  giAe  to  all  a  hearty  welcome,  and  with  innate  courtesy 
thanks  all  who  have  honoured  him  Avith  their  presence.  Observe  the 
warm  acceptance  of  the  loyal  toasts.  Listen  to  the  several  speeches 
earnest,  eloquent,  humorous — in  fact,  all  kinds  but  those  hich  depress, 
that  were  elicited  in  carrying  out  the  programme.  From  this  — a  full 
one — nothing  appropriate  seemed  to  have  been  forgotten,  and  everything 
that  Avas  said  seemed  to  meet  with  enthusiastic  response  ;  but  the  two 
speeches  that  went  home  the  most  directly  were  those  ol  the  veteran,  Mr. 
Hugh  Alton,  in  proposing  the  “  Chairman,”  and  Mr.  Sherwood’s  in 
response.  The  former  described  his  having  watched  the  growth  and 
wonderful  expansion  of  not  only  the  “  House,”  with  which  be  had  been  so 
long  and  pleasantly  connected,  but  he  had  enjoyed  the  privilege  of  also 
watching  with  admiration  the  progress  of  its  honoured  head  from  youth 
to  manhood — his  attention  to  details  till  he  “knew  the  ropes,”  his 
diligence,  thoughtfulness,  and  charming  disposition  ;  and  whose  sons  Avere 
also  following,  in  all  those  respects,  in  the  footsteps  of  their  much-loved 
father  and  friend  of  all  whom  he  had  welcomed  on  the  present  festive 
occasion. 
Then  came  the  great  ovation — ringing  and  prolonged  cheers  from 
many  more  than  a  hundred  throats— while  Mr.  Cox  was  bravely 
striving  to  get  a  hearing  from  his  grand  pianoforte — bravely  but 
vainly,  till  the  vocal  music  waned,  and  then  soon  all  became  still — as 
“  still  as  mice  for  the  master.  There  was  no  mistake  about  his 
speech.  It  emphasised  the  gratifying  fact  that  there  is  unity  in  spirit 
between  workers  of  all  grades  and  directors.  It  is  so,  we  are  happy 
to  know,  in  many  establishments  of  a  similar  character,  and  never  was 
it  signalised  more  clearly  than  on  this  occasion.  In  a  speech  of 
gratitude  and  hope,  Mr.  Sherwood  expressed  his  obligations  to  all — 
men  and  boys— who  served  him  so  loyally,  faithfully,  and  well.  Some 
had  groAvnffrom  boyhood  to  manhood  in  the  work  of  his  “  House,”  and 
he  read  Avith  pride  the  names  of  many  who  had  served  continuously  for 
from  nearly  twenty  to  nearly  forty  years.  He  hoped  other  boys  present 
might  do  the  same.  His  business  could  not  have  been  raised  to  its 
present  dimensions  Avithout  such  an  able  staff  and  worthy,  willing 
AA’orkers  as  he  rejoiced  in.  He  knew  the  Avork,  and  what  men  could  do, 
and  Avarmly  appreciated  what  his  friends  had  done,  were  doing,  and  would 
do  ;  and  they  might  depend  upon  it  that  so  long  as  they  did  their 
duty  to  him  he  should  not  be  lacking  in  endeavour  to  do  his  duty  to 
them  ;  and  Avhile  the  best  of  feeling  existed  and  mutual  trust  prevailed, 
all  Avould  be  stimulated  to  do  what  was  just  and  right,  and  then  as  they 
Avere  satisfied  with,  and  thankful  for,  the  past  and  the  present,  they  might 
look  with  confidence  to  a  prosperous  future,  when  his  sons  would  be  as 
faithfully  served  as  he  himself  had  been. 
Such  is,  in  brief,  the  substance  of  a  speech  that  made  many  hearts, 
old  and  young,  leap  with  joy.  It  is  not  given  to  all  to  do  what  Mr- 
SherAvood  has  done  in  the  institution  of  these  banquets.  They  commenced 
in  connection  with  some  special  event,  or  the  event  was  seized  as  an 
excAise  for  friendly  meetings,  which]  seem  to  have  become  established 
FiCr.  86.— Me.  N.  N.  Sheravood. 
features  to  be  looked  forward  to  annually  by  those  who  have  come  to 
believe  that  such  gatherings  are  good  for  all  who  attend  them. 
But  if  not  in  this  particular  way  and  at  this  particular  time,  yet  in 
other  substantial  ways  and  at  other  times,  are  pleasant  gatherings 
promoted  and  good  deeds  done  by  the  proprietors  of  other  firms  which 
occupy  leading  positions  in  the  great  industry  of  horticulture. 
There  are  still  other  modes,  and  a  time  never  out  of  season  for 
bringing  them  into  operation,  which  go  to  the  making  of  “  happy 
families  ’’—little  personal  acts  of  kindness  and  of  grace  which  aauU  pass 
to  and  fro  before  many  days  are  over,  and  are,  in  fact,  on  the  way.  If 
each  and  every  person  would  seek  to  make  one  human  being  happier  in  a 
thoughtful  way  the  sum  total  of  happiness  AV'ould  be  great.  The  time 
almost  by  universal  consent  for  doing  this  is  now,  and  if  it  were  done 
we  .should  be  nearer  the  realisation  of  the  ancient  Avish  that  will  shortly 
fall  from  a  million  tongues  and  pens  as  naturally  as  it  slips  from  the 
])en  of  the  writer  ;  it  is  a  Catholic  pen  for  the  moment,  and  inscribes 
for  all  of  every  creed,  rank,  class  or  party  the  wish  for 
A  MEREA'  ClIETSTiATAP. 
GLADIOLUS  GANDAYENSIS. 
The  position  which  this  splendid  autumn-floAvering  plant  at  present 
holds,  at  least  in  London  and  its  neighbourhood,  is  a  very  remarkable 
one.  Well  fitted  to  attract  admiration  by  the  bright  and  delicate  colouring 
of  its  flowers  of  all  shades,  from  pure  Avhite  to  the  most  brilliant  scarlet, 
it  may  well  be  asked  Avhy  it  is  not  more  popular  :  by  popular  I  mean  in 
the  sense  of  its  being  more  generally  cultivated  and  exhibited.  Whenever 
Gladioli  are  exhibited,  people  stand  before  them  admiring  their  extreme 
beauty  ;  but  they  go  no  further  than  this,  and  if  you  ask  them  they  will 
probably  shrug  their  shoulders  and  say,  “I  have  tried  them,  and  have 
utterly  failed  to  keep  them.”  I  have  asked  many  why,  and  the  reply  has 
l)een,  as  one  leading  nurseryman  said  to  me,  “I  spent  £50  on  them,  and 
have  not  one  left.” 
I  can  look  back  upon  twenty-five  years  of  exhibiting,  and  the  number 
