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50 years on

50 YEARS ON A review and comparison of the 1958 Yearbook with the 2008 Yearbook..

In reading the 1958 yearbook I was would like to try and draw some comparisons between 1958 and of 2008. I do not want to examine what variety of plant won what prize or how they dealt with pests, because today, new varieties have superseded the prize winning blooms of yesteryear and for sure nobody these days employs the use of DDT and Nicotine as an aid to pest control. Massive strides have been made in the production of pest control, also in giving plants their nutrients, so we have no need to dwell on that subject.

I note that we, since 1958 have kept abreast with the introduction of some fine Pinks and Borders thanks to the societies hybridists, but we have not been so prolific in producing Perpetual Flowering carnations, It seems that most varieties of today are bred in far off lands, maybe we will catch up soon.
In 1958 some 66 Border carnations were grown at the trials ground at Wisley along with lots of Pinks from many nurseries, yet this year in the trials ground I saw only one nursery growing Pinks at the trials ground, although I saw some really beautiful blooms on show in the show room, most of those plants were not seen on the trials ground. Is it just me, am I mad, or is it now the norm not to trial these days. We need to show both sides of the variety. How can I decide if a Pink is good for my garden if I only see it presented on the show bench when I know full well it has been nurtured and cosseted in a greenhouse just so it comes to perfection for the show. I need to see the plant growing it its natural state to make a sound judgement as to whether I should buy or not. The trials ground is our showroom, our supermarket.

In 1957 it is noted that the society had some 2000 members, yet in 1958 the membership had shrunk to 1800, a loss of 200 members and that fact had given rise for concern due also to an increase in the cost of postage, in sending out the yearbooks by post.
But since then massive strides in communication has been made and we now have the Internet that can wing information from one end of the world to the other in seconds at no cost whatsoever, and in the 2008 Yearbook a comment is made that the society has saved around £140 from its postage costs by sending a lot of contact information via e-mail. Yearbooks could now be sent by e-mail to members, saving us a massive amount on postal charges to members who have a computer, and for those who have a computer yet require a hard copy then it would be reasonable to ask for their yearly subscription to be adjusted to take account of sending a hard copy. Of course those members who do not have or want a computer then the means of posting should remain as the status quo, as should their subscription.
Now I can hear the groans from all the way down here in Southampton, but if we are to swell our coffers then we must at least look at these options. I have never been one to shun controversy, so I write to stir your emotions and response.

In the Carnation News and Notes section of 1958 the society asks members to have a drive in trying to swell its membership before the next AGM. It asks members to tell their friends that they grow Dianthus and what gains there is to be had in growing them. They mention that blooms can be had all year round as a way of enticing new members.
Well, we have to reconcile ourselves today that although technically we can produce blooms of surprising quality all year round we have to take stock of rising heating costs so that avenue is not so open to us so much as perhaps it was 50 years ago. But a drive for new members is still in the forefront and we now have new tools to fight with. Tools that can be far more convincing than maintaining blooms 52 weeks of the year.
We can all reach millions of potential new members by advertising and writing on the Internet, as Gary Hammerton our Council Chairman and Newsletter Editor says in this years Yearbook, “he is acutely aware of the lack of response from our membership by way of articles or photographs” I ask you all to write an article to either Ray Ingram our Yearbook Editor, or Gary Hammerton our Newsletter Editor and especially to James Dennison our Website Editor so all aspects of the BNCS publications can be of great interest to our members but also by posting on the Internet we reach millions and with articles posted we can generate such an interest in the society that we swell our membership. So I beg you to write to James Dennison so he can reach his millions of readers through the Internet pages. Do you see Tesco, Littlewoods, and the Ford Motor Group shunning the Internet as an alien thing to be ignored at all cost? No we do not. We have to grasp that lifeline and make our site as interesting as we can and invite new members with discounts on plants, and reduced fees for children’s membership as well as discounts for schools bulk membership. Open an online shop to sell our wares like diaries, calendars, greetings cards, starter kits, surplus plants, books and all things relating to growing our beloved plants. It gladdens my heart to see in the 2008 Yearbook that considerable revenue was generated by the sale of plants at shows, and I as have said before, we can swell this revenue by opening an Internet shop.
Tell potential new members of the massive carbon footprint that imported flowers make and all it takes is a bit of dirt and a plant to eliminate that.

It is only by participation in adding to the WebPages that we can reach new members.

It was 50 years ago that one of our greatest society members and without doubt the best ever Carnation specialist, Mr Montagu William Charles Allwood sadly died aged 79 on 28th July 1958 and was interred at St Peter and St John Baptist Church at Wivelsfield. So as a tribute to him can we please see a real drive to increased membership and the drive to embrace all new ideas as I am sure he would have done in his time, grasp that lifeline now before it is too late and send James Dennison an article to post.

Finally, Old Yearbooks that hold a wealth of information can be purchased by sending cheques payable to the BNCS and addressed to BNCS Yearbooks, Meophams Bank, Sedlescombe Road North, St Leonards on Sea, East Sussex. TN37 7JL

Each CD is priced at £5 each with £2 postage or you can buy the complete set for £52 (UK postage).

Vol 1 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954.
Vol 2 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959.
Vol 3 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964.
Vol 4 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969.
Vol 5 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974.
Vol 6 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979.
Vol 7 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984.
Vol 8 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989.
Vol 9 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994.
Vol 10 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999.

What a lovely Christmas present for your loved one, a whole 50 years of history.

Brain Yates
August 2008