FROME Selwood Horticulture Society hosted Dr Francis Burroughes for a talk that brought the message of the Victorian garden to the present day.
Press Officer for the Frome Selwood Horticulture Society, Jane Norris, reports, “The Frome Selwood Horticulture Society was ahead of the times by going back in time with the eloquent Dr Francis Burroughes.
“Tails of non-mechanical gardening, head gardeners who were expert at extending the season and collecting seed and producing food were if nothing, on trend in the current day of seeking to reduce our carbon footprint.
“Dr Burroughs was in a class of his own as a speaker. Erudite and suitably dour in expression, he sombrely recounted the period of his father’s youth, when he moved between large estates in Norfolk and East Anglia, to eventually Launceston, from gardeners boy aged 12, working from 06.30-20.00 or half a day 06.30-14.30 through the ranks to eventually set up as a nurseryman near Yeovil in 1930.
“Sheer numbers exceeded anything we could comprehend: 750,000 seedlings pricked out and potted on for the carpet bedding; estates where 600 were employed; where rivers were diverted, 15 acres of lawn being mown with either booted horses or post WW1 cylindrical mowers with a grass box; 24 indoor and 24 outdoor staff besides the family to be fed.
“And then grapes! An estate was judged amongst its gardening peers by whether they could produce fresh fruit ten months of the year. By riddling stoves for heating the water pipes in January, then hand pollinating the forced flowers in March and keeping all doors shut thereon for humidity the challenge was met!
“Tails of opulence were put in perspective by the onset of WW2. Having served in WW1 his father now enlisted in the local Home Guard and defended his area with a Sutton Birmingham stirrup pump. When not on patrol he was an inspector of cauliflower seeds, as waste was not an option. For that he had extra petrol tokens.
“The talk was enriched by characters such as William Robinson who in 1893 first published his gardening “bible”, and Col. Dickson who, having served with distinction had bought an estate, was keen on orchids and salad crops and founded the Launceston Horticulture Society.
“It was no surprise that Dr Burroughes eschewed the rigours of his own boyhood of early hours and wet knees amongst the crops and instead entered academia. The FSHS was honoured by his presence, as well as heartily entertained.
“The FSHS meet on the second Tuesday of the month at Critchill School, Frome, BA11 4LD, at 7.15pm for a 7.30pm start. Members and visitors welcome.”
For more details contact Jane Norris on 0777 620 8531 or jane.norris9@ gmail.com
