HORTICULTURAL SOCIETIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume X, Issue 2829, 21 February 1873, Page 3

HORTICULTURAL SOCIETIES.

We have been requested by Mr. 11. J. Hawkins to publish the following extract from a paper read by Mr. T. Baines, at the Horticultural Cunuress, at Manchester, on " Horticultural Exhibitions : their influence on gardening." As the Auckland Horticultural Society intends holding their autumn exhibition on the 2Gth March, we gladly comply with the request of IXr. Hawkins, and hope that all lovers of horticulture will, on that occasion, support the society, either by their presence, by their exhibits, or by both. The writer, after pointing out the influence, of horticultural exhibitions on the past, concludes his papi'r "thus ; It is at horticultural exhibitions thai hundreds of people possessing means first acquire those taste 3 which lead them to beconfe votaries at the shrine of Flora. It is there that the experienced gardener can always see something better grown than hitherto, and which awuUeus in him a determination to equal or exceed that which is before him. It is there that the young men of the present day, and in who3e hands will rest the horticultural reputation of this kingdom [province] when t.hev who bear the the burthen and the toil of the present time shall have been removed from the scene of their labours—it is there that bot li old and young can compare notes, exchange ideas, nnd observe the improvements in culture, the improvemc-nts in the thousand-und-one subJL-cls of the vegetable kingdom which come under the charge of the gardener. It is there that the gardener will always see something calculated to remove those little conceits which we all, perhaps, entertain for our own performances, and where all in common can eoutcmplsile tliu nicat beautiful of Nature's ;roductions. I have noticed that there is a danger of exhibitions in some places becoming mere floral displays of a few specialities. As such, they are ull that could bo desired ; but, seen from a more essential point of view, they are a great mistake. There is ono thing that ought never to be lost sight of: that although it °is desirable to render them sufficiently attractive for the greateet number, still it is of equal or greater importance to render them thoroughly comprehensive by including all varieties of plants, flowers, fruits, and culinary vegetables that are worthy of cultivation, if these views are correct, it behoves every wellwisher of horticulture to assist by all the means in his power the encouragement and promotion of these exhibitions.