Correspondence.

Press, Volume XI, Issue 1370, 29 March 1867, Page 2

Correspondence.

THE FORTHCOMING- HORTlCri> TURAL SOCIETY'S GOLD MEDAL

AND SILVER CUPS. f TO THE EDITOR OF THE "PBESB. Sib,-Some people I am acquainted ««» have thought fit to urge objections against Agricultural and Horticultural Soceli« to«J on the plea that they do not afford » n J , Btantiul advantages lo the prnctical w and gardfn.Ta-th.it tfotnpuuuoiia o ,„ mere amateurs produc* m> bcnoii'•"" , Vato tothoso who live by husbandry, pr f" market gardens. In "'.V opmwu, noli» show a more entire ignorance ol w bearing of auch societies than ••"*■*£» tfe Every intelligent gardener know«*£ range of experimental luteatigation »

is almost .boundless, and he finds St eaTrevolring year adds to his practical, T A„ his theoretical, -knowledge, and uni f n tn,bivns well the desire of obtaining 3 • *■ nn 'for skill R» d perseverance in the of useful knowledge in his propromt" knowledge stimulates him hi* neighbors. to Sp P i«Bentation of a single medal has a o led to movements in gardening winch i f cr«arJs advanced to points of great c 'iinre 1 could'point out numerous inSw both in farming and gardening. Manvtinies do I bear persons attempting to 1, die'•> ■ --'it uj-on societies like ours (which I i Tare t-..t!i formed on sound principles and objects), and illiberally sneering fnnpwtions which are not always perfectly dc-stood, either in object or detail, by those U |<i think fit to denounce them. It is a wry desirable matter that the " upper » of any locality should take a deep .nd'oractical interest in horticultural oceiipa- • Where can there be found employment "Seh is more innocent or interesting of the I ni ye kind, or which tends more, when a ,;" tifica ]iy conducted, to elevate and expand % mind ? What relaxation for the saddened , fatigued spirit can be named that is more iculated to soothe and relieve it than occuthe open garden ? And where can Tmore pleasing excitement, and gentle exercise hafoundtfcanin the garden and shrubbery ? tfor iB this pleasure occasional and evanescent f_it may be enjoyed at all timeß ; and the M t delicate female can never be without Sauwment to inhale the free air of heaven- _, essential to the preservation of her health d beauty —- while she has her flower and sometimes a conservatory to visit (["'arrange. In short, tho possession and management of a well-ordered garden is a noint of attraction to all classes; and if they an support the expense of maintaining a •-first-rategardener who can win prizes, they t only encourage one of a class of men D hoge occupations are pre-eminently useful A pleasing, but he becomes the means of * n arting knowledge to others around him, "hicb in * he end wil * moßt decidedly tend to Tdrance their condition. Although there may be occasional ground for dissatisfaction at the supposed ignorance or partiality of judges in the distribution of prizes (I a™ now alluding more particularly to the horticultural shows held here), and that feeling of jealous rivalry which mean minds bo frequently entertain, with or without reason, still the principle of competition is useful. People of sense not only bear disappointments with a good grace, but feel a generous pleasure in seeing displays of finer plants than they themselves possess, and instead of grumbling at every thing which has not been exactly in accordance with their own views and caprices determine to persevere steadily in their efforts, being quite content to witness the progress of theart which they admire, without experiencing any mortification at their own failures, and very happy to see rich and poor assembled together for the enjoyment of a pure and rational pleasure. Then, when an ardent florist exposes to the scrutinising examination of experienced judges some splendid petunia or other seedling flower which he has raised himself, how happy is he ! How he contemplates his admired specimen ! With what satisfaction he criticises its form and colors ! He pets it up as if it were his child ; guards it "lest the winds of heaven should visit it too roughly;" gives it air and warmth, and nourishment suited to its condition and necessities ; watches over its growth with that certainty of receiving, no ungrateful return for his care. And who that has a heart will not experience more genial delight in looking at a fine collection of choice flowers than in viewing an extravagant display of expensive dishes upon his table, for the entertainment of people who do not care one farthing for their entertainer ? And who that sees the beautiful specimens of new varieties which the tasteful gardener perpetually raises—as much fiom the influence of professional emulation as from the love of his art—will say that our horticultural show is useless, or that the art of gardening can go no further ? Let us just firßt reflect on the advancement yrhiehhai been effected in the culture of the reZargonium, ior no plant has been more varied within thvrK years ; persevering cultivation has wrought the most surprising changes, and I produced a most wonderful number of varieties in this beautiful flower. The coralla has been enlarged, the colors, infinitively diversified, have passed through successive gradations from the purest white to the deepest shade of block. That beautiful plant which during half the year ornaments our flower beds owe 6 its pre-eminence to honorable emulation. Again in the tribe of roses —of which more than 5000 varieties now exist—there were but five kinds known 180 years ago in France anc England ; and when a sixth was imported into the former country from Italy, for the first time, all the world of florists w»nt mad to obtain it. When Linneus published his "Species Plantarum," in 1762, there were only fourteen kinds of roses known, and now there aro more than 5000. What but the spirit of competition has effected this enormous increase? What but emulation produces, every season, some new sorts in budding, grafting, and sowing, which bring forth the innumerable hybrids of the rose tribe?. And though some old-fashioned florits may complain (not many of them left now) that caprice and fickleness, which operate more or less in all human affairs, have caused results not altogether legitimate in the royal family of roses, both red and white, by substituting the younger scions for the elder branches, bringing into popular favor the hybrids of which we have now so mauy growing in our gardens, I cannot but think it is no small advantage to have obtained plants that, unlike the old parent stock— vshich, no doubt, was very respectable in its day—will exhibit animation throughout the year, though their flowers be deficient in the odour and excellence of the ancient family. I know that some humbug is occasionally the result of a successful hit at a prize show of flowers, but it is not of any serious consequence, nor can it in these days when there are so many professional rivals in the floral and horticultural departments, Bffect the pocket of the amateur to any sensible degree, as might have been the case in the days of the tulip mania, when Hollanders made fortunes, by a few of the idol plants of their country. For example, a specimen of a pansy « honored with a prize at our show, or some other exhibition, and the happy owner advertises his spare plants of the favorite kind at a very high price compared with their real value, but low in itself, and a mere trifle for a fancy article, and such as no amateur will consider a drain from his purse, while the payment of it tends to encourage the gardener ttho lives by his occupation. In fine, whether the vegetable productions encouraged at our horticultural shows be cabbages or potatoes, cauliflower* or carnations, parsnips orpansies, I wish success to those who deserve it in their respective classes, whether the claimants ba gardeners, nurserymen, or amateurs. Yours, &c, WIILIAM SWAXB.