The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1885-09-08 00:00:00

Corroponbrnce.

PORTLAND HORTICULTURAL socier
To ii4t Editor.
Sir,— If I am not treinaviaing on your apace, may I
oak you to again publish a litter which 1 sent you
mime little time since, and which appearcvl in your
isaue of the ith tilt. I ask the favour because I wish
to bring before the bar of public opinion A gnus piece
of injustice, with the hope that justice may ultimately
take her proper plane, and that seeming utter selfish.
floss may be ashainial.
The letter is as follow,'

"Sir,—Aproins the letter, signed 'Pro It.mo
Pubhop,' in your valuable paper a week or two since,
recommending a departure in respect to the usual
routine of the above society, may I suggest another
which 1 think will readily appeal to the committee as
reasonable and worthy of their consideration. In poet
years I hare noticed the want of any stmcial incentive
to that hard working and newt deserving class, via,
the quarrymen, who are certainly the most numemus,
as well as the backbone .d the trade in the island.

"No matter whether we look to drapers, tailors,
grocers, blacksmiths, carpenters, or bakers, they
are, one and all, more or leo., dependent on the
quarrymen. Th.. Clll 141 above mentioned have far
more time to attend to their Franklin, conrequently
their exhibits isight toshow a higher degree of cultnre,
and it is manifestly unjust to handicap the quarrymen,
awl I would theref..n, suggest that special prizes in the
nigetable classes sl Id be given for quarrymen
only, and I believe were this idea follower' out, many
outande the island would lw indite...l to contribute
towards %Ise binds; then the nociety would lionelit a
Host deserving claim. At the ^nine time the coin.
petiton. as • tssly would not suffer in the slightest
siegree.—Yours truly,
"Rrirricre.
"Portland, July 20th."
I need scarcely say that my suggestions were
un-noticed, that is, MO far as in any way affecting the
usual nnitine of the list id prizes and their classifica-
tion. is scarcely t Ile wondered at, for monopoly
is seldom a hmer of, or I% won.hipper at, the shrine
of justice. I will now protved to detail a few facts
gathered by my own observation. I find that the
total number of exhibib.r, in the different classes wen.
112. Of them, CA'i were &OM dtagers, mcli
141 %ranters, quarrymen, lalwurers, ke. Thews
were awarded I..rty-two (wizen, i.s,r .1 which
were article., And the 1,11111 total c.f the remainder
amminted to et 10s. T 1... other exhibitors nimilier.sl
comprising j.rofessional now, tradesmen, gardeners,
etc., or inembern 4 their famili.w. They are generally
the welldwdo inembeni of society (some ..f them
having greenl is), who have both means and time
at their disgswal, and can theref. we bring their
exhibits to a higher degnie lif culture. That they are
able so to do will be shown by the fact that they were
awarded no les.s than nil prizes, eleven being articles,
and the sum total of the othen, a 1111 l unting to £ll 11.1.
This is considerably illf,re than 100 per cent. over and
above tne sum award...l t.. their iss.rer
the cottager... This state iif things has been going on
for yearn, and at first sight and in view of the fact
that members of the committee carried ~if such a good
Prols.rtion of the gwizes, the CAM' 1.1.111,1 ine of
organised wilfishneni, and but for knowing the men
should be driven to this conclusion. I am, however,
well avowed such is not the case. I must neverthe.
less, remind them that " is wrought hw want of
thought, API well as want of heart." I would now ask,
is it not time that the ecoriety (its organisation and
classification) lie more equit./lily arranged, otherwise
Lb.' inniner it dies a natural ibath the better 7 Factn
are naid to he ntulibiwn thingn, and in conclunion I
would invite the secretary, the committee, or any one
elne to disprove my stAtenirlibl. Thanking you in
antlelludion for inserting illy letters, I ain, sir, yours
truly,

Ri.wricrs.
cmnmittee, their wive., and children
nii less that i award.
Portland, August VII.