The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1861-06-11 00:00:00

ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY'S

GARDENS.

TNAuGURATION BY HIS Borst, HIGHSISS TILT FRISCH

CONBOIT.

Twenty-two acres of the land purchased out of the
surplus funds of the Great Exhibition have been leased
to the Horticultural Society, aud upon it the gardens
are now rapidly approaching to maturity. The north
arcade is large and handsome, copied, we were informed,
from the arcade at the Villa Albani. at Rome; the
central ones are not less imposing, arid both together
harmonise admirably with the general aspect of toe
gardens. The conservatory is decidedly a handsome
sod imposing structure, quite a miniature Cryotal Palace,
and looking beautiful when filled, as it was on
Wednesday, with the rarest and most brilliant exotica.
When we say that it is 270 feet long, 75 feet wide, and
100 feet high, and of exceedingly handsome design, it
will be seen that this edifice is destined to be one of the
greatest attractions of the gardens. The waterworks,
although not quite so extensive as those of Veni-illes
or St. Cloud, are of pretty design, and when finished
will play throughout the day, a feature whichin the very
hot weather will add greatly to the comfort of the
visitors. The rdens have all been laid out under the
superintendence of Mr. Eyles, formerly of the Crystal
Palace, the society's gardener.
Wednesday was not only the day fixed for the
inaugursl ceremonial, but it was •Ilao that upon which
the first fruit and flower show of the society took place,
and certainly the magnificent display of fruits and
flowers which was exhibited yielded nothing in
attractiveness to the other and possibly more important
proceedings.
The company assembled was the most numerous and
fashionable of the reason. We should think that half
the Honest of Lords were present including the Marquis
of Lansdowne, the Lord Chancellor, Earl of Clerendon,
Duke of Sutherland, Earl Granville, Earl of Derby,
Lords Reentry and Llanover, Eirl of Cardigan, kc.
There was • brilliant assemblage of ladies.
The hour figsl for the srrival of the Prints Consort
was half last four, and shortly before that time the
military preparations were completed. and the guard of
honour drawn up for his Royal Highness's reception.
The ground upon which • tree was to be plauted was
kept by the Royal Engineers attached to the South
Kensington Museum, whilst the lit Middlesex Engineers
lined all the walks leading to the conservatory. His
Royal Highness arrived punctually at the appointed
time, and was received by the authorities with the
accustomed honours. The Prince. who wore plain
black with the ribbon of the Garter, looked exceedingly
well, and was very much cheered by the company on
entering the ground. His Royal Highness, who was
present in his capacity of preei,lent of the society, was
accompanied by the Prince of Wales, the Princesaaaa
Alice, Helera, and Louise, Prince Arthur, the I). chess
of Cambridge and Princess Mary, the Doke of Cam-
bridge, the Count de Flanders, and Prince Louis of
Hesse.

1 i. Royal Highness took his mat at the top of the
demi leading to the central entrance, and •
:irele 'Hieing been formed by the troops, the council ad-
vanced, and Dr. Lindley, secretary to the society, read
an address, to which his Royal Highness replied in the
following terms :
I thank you for the address which you have jutt pre-
sented to me. While you have expressed your deep
regret at being deprived. on the present occuion, of the
presence of the Queen, I sin enabled and empowered to
assure von that her Majesty, on her part, also sincerely
regreta her inability to makr by her presence the inter-
est she takes in yoor proceedings, and her desire for
your success. You have addressed me in my double
capacity of president of your society, and also of
the Royal Commissionere of 1851. In either of
these capacities, I cannot but be gratified by the scene
now before me. Having shared, to SOON extent, in you
labours and anxieties, lain happy to be aslie to congratu-
late you on what has been effected In so incredibly short
a time—effected, notwithstanding the difficulties to
which you have alluded, and which appeared lathe time
aluicet to forbid hope of success. That which, last year,
was still • vague conerption, is to day a reality; and I
trust, will be accepted as • valuable attempt, at least,
to re-unite the seismic and art of gardening to the sister
arts of architecture sculpture, and painting. We
already see to the south, rising, as it were by magic,
the commencement of a noble work, entirely the result
of the voluntary efforts of that public; and this garden,
entirely the result of the Great Exhibition of 1851, will
hardly be completed ere that exhibition shall ham been
rivalled, and, I true*, even surpassed, by the beauty
and sumer of that which we hope next year to witness.
This garden will then open an additional source of en-
joyment to the Wiesen& who may be expected tocrovrd
the new Crystal Palace of Industry. Unrivalled oppor-
touities are here offered for the display of works of art,
and for the erection of monuments as trioutes to great
men and public benefactors. The ntemorial of the Ex'
hibition of 1851, the result of privatesubscriptions, will
be the first received in these grounds; and, adorned
with& statue of the clime, will soon rise in the centre
of the garden.y your efforts meet with public
apprutiat on I may umt approbation give yea the sup-
port required, not oaly further to °eminent these pr-
jags, but also to carry out, even on a lamer scale tbs..
•missing the laid forty-eight years, the maul objects for
which you an incorporated.
When his 'toys' Highness had finished, the company
cheered loudly, after which an appropriate religions
terries and prayer were delivered by the Lord Bishop
01 London, larked by his eheOde. The procesaieu
the. reformed, and heeded by the Priam proceeded to
the spot where the tree. • Walliaglosia Weak*. flood

ready to be planted, The tree having been placed up.
right in the hole which bad been prepared for its recep-
tion, his Royal Highness took op an ordinary garden
spade in a very vigorous and businese-like manner, and
threw an the first earth. The princesses next each in
turn threw ins spadeful,being gallautlyasaisted in their
labours by his Royal Highness. but when the turn of
the heir apparent came, the Prince Consort laughingly
told his Royal 11.glinwe he was quite strong enough for
the work himeelf, and should have no help. This little
episode evoked immense laughter and cheers (ruin the
bystanders. The Cow meoder-ha-Chief next plied a most
efficient spade, .n.I the implement being subsequently
pavied from M.o.' to hand through the mite, the Welling-
ton Gig.utea was in a very short time thoroughly and
properly planted. Among other distinguished gardeners
we noticed Lords Derby and Granville. Mr. Disraeli
was also present, but we did rat observe that he took
any active part in the aboricultural process. The plant•
Mg, which was the most interesting portion of the day's
proceedings, having terminated, the Prince, attended as
before, returned to the cooservatory, and devoted some
time to • careful examination of the fruits and flowers,
with all of which he expressed himself to be entirely
satiafietl. Refreshments were thee offered and accepted,
after which his Royal Highness and friends retired to
their carriages, receiving quite 11DOVII•tiOn.
This terminatel theday's proceedings; but it was some
time before the company got cleared off, in consequence
of the enormous throng of carriages which filled the
road on both sides of the grand entrance.