C
September 18, 1905.]
HORTICULTURE AT HONGKONG.
(Daily Press 15th September.)
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE BER
189
* The Singapore Free Press says: "Singa- pore amateur horticulturists will learn with some wonder that it has been left to H.E. Sir MATTHEW Nathan, Governor of Hong- kong, to take the initiative, after a lapse of many years, in promoting the holding of a flower-show in that Colony. A small com- mittes of persons interested in the subject has been selected, with Sir FRANCIS PIGGOTT as chairman. The last public flower show in Hongkong appears to have been held. so far back as 1888." Grateful as we are to HIS EXCELLENCY for the part he has taken, we must point out that the wording of the paragraph quoted robs us of the credit of August twelve months ago, it is desirable | clings. The man holds his mouth open
the initiative to which we are fairly cntitled When so few officials are willing even to consider suggestions, it is gratifying to know, however, that we have a Governor who notices everything in the way of suggestive comment, irrespective of its source August 30th, last year, under the heading "Horticulture at Hongkong," we wrote an article which concluded as follows:-
*
Silently, one by one, in the infinite"
meadows of heaven.
Од
to think or suggest that the Department forget what special moral the grent Russian viewed the promotion of the flower show writer drew; but there is the one that with aby such lack of sympathy; and, cannot escape attention; and its possible indeed, gladly take it for granted that they applications are innumerable.. A story of are uot only "sufficiently interested to make similar, almost identical, construction is a move," but that they are sufficiently in found among the Buddhist parables, as love with the esthetic side of their work to mentioned by the late Professor MAX move with enthusiasm and purpose. Hail. MULLER. In that also a man hangs from ing with all pleasure, then, the active the branch of a tree, the branch bending interest of His EXCELLENCY, and the loyal over a well. An elephant tries to break co-operation of the Department, we have still down the tree. At the bottom of the well is to recognise that more is needed. The a dragon, and serpents writhe about the people for whose pleasure and benefit the sides of the well. In addition-showing movement is aimed must, if the show next that Buddhism realises that fleshly ills February is to inaugurate a series of cannot be overstated-two mice, one successful ones, show more than a merely black, one white (night and day) are tolerant approyal. As we suggested in busy gnawing at the branch to which he that more amateur gardeners should be catching some drops of honey that fall from encouraged; and the list of competition higher branches. The tree is the world, classes as published is partly directed that the branch man's life; and the Buddhist way. We would have liked to see a pot. moral is that man is blind to the p
perils plant competition confined to those who do around him, owing to his hunger for the not employ gardeners; and better sweets. Buddhism, and some other still, a competition for juvenile exhibitors. religions, recommend him to dwell more on Every man to his taste, of course; and we the perils of life, and to think less of its confess to a lack of enthusiasm in the sweets. Many men try to do so; and are matter of offering prizes to Chinese market made thereby more unhappy. The animal gardeners ouly. These men compete for world, excluding man, is happy because, as Blossomed the lovely strs, the forget-
me-nots' of the angels."
prizes every day, the prizes of the WALT WHITMAN says, it does not lie awake Silently, one by one, the terraces and corners market which are good prices and at nights bemoaning its sins. It does not, of Hongkong could be made to shine below good profits; and we do not quite see that is to say, take notice of the elephant, like the stars in that pretty couplet of Long what object is to be gained.
Ia au
the mice, and the dragon. Not having fellow's, and that with no mor- fuss or trouble extensive experience of such exbibitions, acquired man's cognisance of its own mor- than the flourishing of banting on festival
we remember no previous instance of tality, it retains its inheritance of eternal occasions. How is it that there is no Hongkong requiring such big exhibits of potatoes and life. To enjoy this bliss of ignorance, there Floral or Horticultural Socie y The daily
Twelve pods of peas, or twenty at must be, as was doubtless the case with the spectacle of the Flower Market in a side-street peas. canno be considered as ample or ad quate grati- most, is ample; while the exaction of 25 Manila malefactors, more brutality than fication of the masthetic sense that the Hong-potatoes from each exhibitor will not make intellect. The higher the type of human kong dweller assuredly possesses. The tree. the judge's task any easier. It is also evolution, the greater is the intellectual peony and the lotus, the almond blossom and unusual to require so many. We hope for perception of the Aragon and the well, and the topiaried shrubs affected by the natives the best; but we fear that this first flower the more pessimism and sorrow. The story cannot fill the places of the Home favourites.show has been decided and arranged with
as told by TOLSTOY, MULLER, and others
•If the flower sellers can successfully rear foreign less deliberation and discussion than we is as universal in its/basic form as are some blooms for lucre, may our own folk not manage should have liked to see. There is still of the primal legends of the “Geta them for love? A local flower show might do much to foster e thusiasm, and enrich the time to add the amateur and juvenile Romanorum"; and though priests and flora Hongkongensis, just as the Royal Horti. classes to the list, if thought desirable. bonzes apply it as may best suit their cultural Society at Home has done so much to Another reflection that occurs to us is that creeds, its photographic accuracy as a pic- revive the cult and culture of the English rose. while it is very nice to have a Government tare of human nature remains unaltered. It is not sufficient to write a cheque and have Department taking all the trouble and This trait of mankind is an instinct: reason a gardener and his coolies exercise his taste in bearing all the expense, it encourages the might tell him that he should so make the the environment of the foreigner. When the foreigner and his lady, and their children also public laziness and indifference. With the best of circumstances, but he does so unrea.. a matter of unconquerable learn how much it means to make personál most informal of invitations through the soningly, as friends of the growing things about their door, Press, private donors would have been glad habit. That is why SCHOPENHAUR could. there will be no necessity to tempt them with to offer as many prizes as any flower show still enjoy the life he thought he scorned; the mild excitements of neighbourly rivalry. committee could need. In this way also, why doctors can be optimists; and also A new and absorbing interest will have come valuable suggestions are forthcoming, as unfortunately, why Englishmen shụt their to vanquish boredom, and relieve the tedium when a gentleman offers a handsome prize ears to Lord ROBEETS warnings, and accept of daily work. In the mean im`, a local
that there is no danger.
-
?
·
horticultural society seems a means to an endfor a window or verandah-box of flowers with satisfaction Mr. BALFOUR's assuranзə “
Are there n ne sufficiently interested to make a move? Our columns are open to comment: we should be glad to encourage any movement
in such a direction.
No comments were forthcoming, and we concluded that Hongkong folk must be apathetic towards:" the girl children of the gardener's nursery." HIS EXCELLEŃCY had noted the unofficial suggestion, however; and in the midst of much other and perhaps more materially important business, he found time to make enquiries as to the how and why of the lack thus indicated. The
tended throughout by child horticulturers. It would also increase the public interest in the show, and in the culture of flowers, and in the beauty of Hongkong-all of which are consummations devoutly to be wished.
THE DEAF EAR AND THE BLIND EYE.
(Daily Press, 16th September). Two criminals condemned to death in the Philippines have given occasion for remark in the Manila papers by asking, on their
Bota were Afforestation department way to execution, for a drink of beer. One
officials not, apparently, disposed to admit that we could possibly be right about the tree-cutting; their official at titude towards newspapers being akin to that of the scriptural sceptics who asked how anything good could come from Nazareth. Yet the result was that the expert advice they were constrained to get from India justified our earnestly expressed opinions; and the Vandalism, if not stopped, has been considerably diminished. Rainfall, health, and scenic beauty are to count for something besides mere revenue hunting. We should be loth
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
A meeting of the Legislative Council was held at the Council Chamber on Sept. 14th.
There were present
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOE, · SIR MATTHEW NATHAN, K.C.M.G.
Hon. Colonel C. H. DARLING, R.E. (General Officer Commanding the Troops).
bon. Mr. T BERCOMBE SMITH (Colonial- Secretary).
Hon. Sir H. 8. BERKELEY, K.C. (Attorney- General).
Hon. Mr. L. A. M. JOHNSTON' (Colonial Treasurer).
Hon. Mr. E. A. IRVING (Registrare General).
Hon. Mr. BASIL H. TAYLOR, R.N. (Harbour Master).
Hon. Mr. W. CHATHAM (Director of Public
American journal considered it in the light of a joke; others conceded that it was at least strange. It Was human nature epitomised, as a matter of fact; and recalls the story told by TOLSTOY in (if memory serves aright) "My Religion." Therein was told an incident of a man hanging over a pit, clinging to a slender and slowly break-Works) ing branch. In the pit a mass of deadly serpents awaited his fall: on the edge of the pit a ravening bear looked anxious to catch him. On the top of this acme of misery, the man, noticing some drops of honey on a leaf, greedily licked it up. We
Hon. Sir C. P. CHATEE, C.M.G. Hon. Dr. Ho KA1, M.B., C.M., C.M.G Hon. Mr. R. SHEWAN, Hon. Mr. GERSHOM STEWART. Hon. Mr. WEI YUK.
Hon. Mr. W. C. DICKSON. Mr. A. G. M. FLETCHER (Clark of Councils) -
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