| Description | [The Reading Horticultural Society and the Reading and Disctrict Rose and Sweet Pea Society were active in the early years of the twentieth century. Each society organised an annual show for exhibitors to show their produce in competition for prize medals, cups and monetary awards.
However, during the 1910s, both societies faced financial problems. Appeal letters sent to subscibers reveal that renewed membership and good attendance to the shows were vital for the continuation of both societies.
Charles Howlett was the long-standing Secretary for both societies simultaneously in the first decades of the twentieth century. However, Howlett impulsively resigned this post for the Reading Horticultural Society in 1913. His resignation came following the spontaneous decision, initiated by Howlett and the Committee, to cancel the Summer show that year owing to the poor financial position of the Society. The decision was made without consulting the President of the Society, who did not agree with Howlett.
The Society did not seem to recover from its financial problems under the guidance of the new Secretary and both the Reading Horticultural Society and the Reading and Disctrict Rose and Sweet Pea Society had ceased most activity by 1915.
A letter calling for the revival of the Reading Horticultural Society and a response from Charles Howlett in The Reading Standard in 1921 reveal further details of the problems that led to the failure of the society. Howlett lists poor attendance, greedy expectations of the members and competition with smaller horticultural, claiming that these problems affected the Reading and Disctrict Rose and Sweet Pea Society in a similar way.] |