The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1843-09-19 00:00:00

HALE FLORAL AND HORTICULTURAL
MEETING.

The annual (and third) meeting at Hale for the exhibi-
tion of fruits, flowers, &c., and especially for the en-
couragement of the rural population of that delightful
locality, hi the neatness of their cottages and the superior
cultivation of their gardens, took place on Thursday last ;
and, notwithstanding the unfavourable state of the weather
during the hours of the show, it was the roost interesting
that has yet taken place, whether as regards the specimens
produced—which strongly proved the excellent effects of
the labours of the society—or the magnitude and respect-
ability of the attendance. The forenoon was fine, without
any indication of downfal, and the village (in the full
luxuriance of early autumn) presented its usual animated
appearance on such occasions—the inhabitants young and
old being arrayed in their best, every dwelling being
beautifully clean, and every garden blooming over the
green fences, with roses, dahlias, and other choice plants
and flowers—each cottage forming, as it were, a picture
in itself. Towards two o'clock, however, an approaching
misty gathering from the Welsh mountains on the west
side of the Mersey was the forerunner to a thick warm
rain, which continued to descend more or less for upwards
of three hours, and considerably damped the garments ,
though scarcely the spirits of those who were exposed to
it. A number of persons who had intended to be present
were consequently deterred from the advent,ire. As it
was, such was the interest excited that the numbers pre-
sent greatly surpassed, we think, those of the former
shows, so that the tent and the domestic arrangements,
though enlarged, were inadequate to their convenient ac-
commodation.
The show-tent, which in former years had been
fixed on the Smithy Green, was on this occasion
pitched on a fine level grass-plot, about fifty yards to the
northward of it ; a choice site, surrounded by gardens and
cottages. About two o'clock it was opened to the public,
and towards three became filled to repletion. The yard
of the inn (" The Childe of Hale") was filled with car-
riages, gigs, &c., and others, including omnibuses, conti-
nued to arrive, and lined the main street of the village.
An estimate may be formed of the multitude present when
we state that within two hours no fewer than 1700 indivi-
duals entered the tent. They comprised parties of the
first respectability and distinction, from within a circuit
of many miles, including Liverpool, Prescot, Aigburth,
Wootton, Warrington, St. Helen's, Runcorn, and other
places in Cheshire, as well as not a few from more distant
parts. An excellent military band was in attendance.
The tent was handsomely decorated with evergreens,
&c., and the devices were numerous and beautiful. At
one end we observed a crown, formed of dahlias of the
brightest hues, and surrounded by foliage. At the other
was a full-length likeness of " The Childe," in the ancient
showy dress in which that gigantic personage is usually
represented, all wrought out in flowers, mosses, &c., by
Ralph Ashton, and surmounted with V. R. in dahlias.
Two handsome banners, painted in oil, and suspended
from the roof, represented Britannia, the Prince of Wales's
Feathers, the Bible and Crown, and other national sub-
jects. The devices on the centre table were also nume-
rous and striking, including a large and beautiful one, in
heath and flowers, resembling an umbrella, by Mrs. Fleet-
wood, of Tarbuck, made on a very short notice ; vases ; a
large (pheasant) " Cock and Trumpet," the crest of the
family of John Ireland Blackburne, Esq., M.P., the re-
spected president of the society; a splendid tree, loaded
with apples of various sorts, from the smallest to the
largest ; a globe or balloon, of heath and flowers ; a fine
imitation of a plantain tree, a crown, &c. Many of the
devices were made by the direction of Mr. John Nickson,
the zealous and active secretary of the society.
There were also a number of interesting models, faithful
likenesses of interesting objects in the neighbourhood,—
Hale Church and church-yard ; the Parsonage-house and
grounds, by Thomas Brookfield, the constable of the
village; a cave piece (" The Hut," we believe, of Hale-
wood), the entrance lodge of Hale Hall, by Jas. Edging-
ton. The objects and figures in these were admirably
represented in miniature proportion, and the parsonage,
church, and lodge, in particular, were much admired.
We also observed a model garden, with the old gardener
and his dame vending vegetables, &c., a capital and
humorous resemblance of a mart of " green groceries."
The articles, including all kinds of garden productions,
were real, but of miniature size, and behind were hung up
minute models of every sort of horticultural and agricul-
tural implements. The figures, too, were true, both in
look and apparel. This was by Betty Winstanley.
The horticultural and other products with which the
tables were plenished were all that could be desired, and
more than was anticipated, particularly as regarded those
exhibited by the cottagers, whose exertions to excel are
highly'honourable to themselves ; and our meed of praise
must necessarily be equally shared by the society, who
have called forth the latent energies, and improved the
taste and habits, of the industrial population of the neigh-
bourhood. The plants and flowers they brought up were
exceedingly good, especially the panzies, fuchsias, and
geraniums. The show of cottage dahlias, though not
large, contained some fine specimens; and all the vegeta-
bles were excellent, including some giant samples of celery.
The fruits, though, from the nature of the season, not
numerous, were quite as good in quality as those of last
year. We do not remember to have seen such a collection
of immense cabbages, red and white. The farmers (who
competed for premiums offered by subscribers) brought
up many specimens of wheat, oats, and barley, in the
straw, of great weight and excellent quality—the sight of
which would have driven an anti-corn-law leaguer to ab-
solute despair. The turnips, mangel-wurzel, &c., were
also large and fine. One basket of roses attracted much
attention, but we have not space to particularize. Amongst
the fruit sent—but not for competition—were some dishes
of remarkable fine pears and plums, contributed by Mr.
Shaw, a very active member of the committee.
Shortly after the opening_ a far,
owe up from an adjoining garden by Mr. E. M. Pye,
surgeon, and presented a pleasing sight. This same bal-
loon was originally found, in 1841, in a wood at Speke,
and was supposed to have come from the Zoological
Gardens. At the show last year it was set up by Mr. P.,
and was recovered at Hale Bank. On this occasion it
took a direction towards Eastham, and happening to drop
before it reached the river, was picked up within 100 yards
of the spot where it was first found, and brought back—
so that it will be again available at the next meeting.
Previously to the opening of the exhibition, the Rev.
Mr. Stewart, the highly-esteemed pastor, entertained a
large number of friends in a spacious tent erected in front
of the parsonage, where a sumptious collation, with jellies,
fruits, &c., was laid out. In the evening, his visiters
partook of tea in the some rural retreat. Tents were also
pitched in other ',art, of the village, where treats were
given to friends, aid every house was filled with joyous
parties, who will long remember the hospitalities of Hale.
Towards four o'clock (from which hour the exhibition
was opened gratuitously to the public), the Rev. Mr.
Stewart addressed the assemblage prefatory to announcing
the prizes. He said the object of the society was prin-
cipally to give encouragement to industrious cottagers,
within three miles, to increase the comforts of their humble
dwellings, and to cultivate their gardens with taste as well
as profit. Such an occupation, besides forming an agree-
able recreation during leisure hours, attached the tenant
to his home and his country ; induced industrious habits,
and excited that feeling of independence which was the
best security against improvidence and poverty. The
state of a cottage garden might be taken as a criterion of
the character of its possessor; for where weeds prevailed,
there would destitution be found ; and when cleanliness,
order, and beauty were observable, there would plenty
and domestic virtues and happiness be conspicuous. A
great improvement was, he was rejoiced to say, obvious
in the neighbourhood—the result of the labours of the
society. He expatiated on the love of a garden as in-
herent in our nature. Flowers where, he said, the first
delight of our infant days, and often the last of our de-
clining years. All civilized nations, ancient and modern,
had delighted in horticultural labours and enjoyments;
and when man came pure from the hands of his Divine
Maker, a garden was selected as the fittest place of his
abode. He concluded by reading a number of elegant
and appropriate stanzas, written by a resident, illustrative
of the rural beauties and antiquities of Hale; and after-
wards announced the prizes to the several successful
visiters, making a suitable address to each.
The rev. gentleman then proposed a vote of thanks to
the patron—J. I. Blackburne, Esq. of Hale Hall.
Mr. BLACKBURN made a feeling and kindly reply. He
congratulated the meeting on the success of the society,
which had worked well, as was evinced by all around them
that day. It had already done much good, and he as-
sured them he should give it all the future support that
was in his power. His brief address was enthusiastically
received

The thanks of the meeting being proposed to the com-
mittee for their great exertions, and also agreed to with
hearty cheers,
Mr. RosE replied. He said that, though unprepared,
he was happy
to return thanks on behalf of the commit-
tee ; but while he admitted their services, he could not

avoid reminding them of the great and unwearied ser-
vices of their secretary ; for, though the committee had
nominally the direction, he, in reality was the guiding
spirit. He therefore proposed the thanks of the meeting
to that gentleman, and the call was met with loud ap-
plause.

Mr. NICKSON returned his grateful thanks for their
approval of his services. He had done all in his power,

. .
consistently with his duty in another quarter, to promote
the objects of the society, which had been so well de-
scribed by the worthy and rev. president. flow far their
efforts had succeeded, the splendid exhibition of that day
best testified. Notwithstanding the humble origin of the
society only three years ago, so well had its merits been
appreciated by the public, that in a few months 200 per-
sons had enrolled their names as subscribers, and in a
short time their funds amounted to _
£3O.
In the follow-

ing year this sum was doubled, and 100 names were
added to the list of subscribers.
The present year the
number of subscribers was nearly
.500 ;
the funds amounted
to X9O; and as their resources increased, so he trusted
would also their usefulness. But, although their labours
bad been highly successful, he for one would not rest con-
tented until every cottager in the district became a com-
petitor; and so far as his abilities and influence extended,
he would, with the consent of his kind employer, and the
assistance of his friends, endeavour so to frame the rules
and regulate the future rewards, that every cottager lay-
ing claim to the smallest share of industry might have an
equal chance of success. He congratulated the cottagers
who had won prizes, and considered that all who had
competed were worthy of praise and encouragement.
Those who had been unsuccessful, and those who, appre-
hending defeat, had not competed, would, he trusted, not
return to their homes disheartened ; for if they began in
time and persevered, they too would find success easy of
attainment. He reminded them that the labour of the

committee were given to them gratuitously—their only
object being their good ; and they could not, he felt as-
sured, look around upon the large assemblage there met
for the same purpose, and ungratefully reject their prof-
fered services. In conclusion he thanked the visitors who
had honoured them by their attendance, and hoped to see
them on many future occasions of a similar nature.