THE PLOEAL WOELD AND GAEDEN aUIDE. 117 



providing tlie water required for tlie various basins, etc., as well as for the 

 general use of the garden, by sinking an artesian well. Tliere are other 

 minor matters which, tliough it may be said that the works are incomplete 

 without tiiem, can hardly be ranked under the head of unexecuted works. 

 These are statues, tazzas, vases, and other objects of ornament. If the pro- 

 gress of the works has been satisfactory, not less so has been the progress of 

 the society itself. Since 1859 a greater number of new Fellows have joined 

 the society than ever before did in any two years of its palmiest time. Such 

 numbers sufficiently indicate the appreciation by the public of the efforts 

 made to restore the society to its former eminence, their expectations of 

 success, and confidence in the future attractions of the garden. The funds 

 of the society have in this manner been largely recruited. Many of those 

 who have joined during the last two years have become life members, 

 their subscriptions representing a sum of about £13,300. The expenses, 

 however, have been, and, to complete the works, must be, great, and the 

 council (as the society is already aware) found it necessary to apply for au- 

 thority to raise by debentures a sum of £10,000, in addition to that of 

 £40,000 which was already sanctioned by the society. This authority was 

 granted by the Fellows at a special meeting held on the 19th of April, and in 

 less than a fortnight more than double the sum required was offered. The 

 council, under the agreement with her Majesty's Commissioners for the Ex- 

 hibition of 1851, and the other arrangements of the society, found it neces- 

 sary to apply for a new charter. This has been for some time in preparation, 

 and it is expected to pass the great seal within a few days. The ordinary 

 working of the society has been going on satisfactorily during the last twelve 

 months. By devoting the large conservatory at Chiswick to the cultivation 

 of vines an admirable collection of the best kinds has been secured, from 

 which the inferior sorts are being, by degrees, eliminated, and a very large 

 number of cuttings of the now recognized best sorts, and of other fruit trees, 

 have been distributed. The council have arranged to send a collector to an 

 interesting district in South Brazil, and have also made arrangements with a 

 collector who is already in South Africa, to collect and transmit seeds and 

 plants to this country. The spacious council-room not only furnishes the 

 Fellows with a suitable place of meeting, as well as accommodation for their 

 minor shows and competitions, but removes any difficulty as to a hall for the 

 delivery of lectures, and for the reading of papers on scientific subjects, 

 should such be resolved on. The council feel it their duty to express their 

 gratitude to her Majesty the Queen, and his E,oyal Highness the Prince 

 Consort, president of the society. It is only those who, like the council, 

 have had the privilege of seeing the time and thought bestowed by his Royal 

 Highness upon the plans of the garden in all their details, who can appre- 

 ciate the extent of that interest and the advantage the society has derived 

 from it." The Duke of Rutland, Mr. John Fleming, and Mr. Robert Cooper 

 were elected as members of the council in the place of three members recom- 

 mended to be removed. 



Ceystal Palace, May 18. — Neither the sharp winter nor the cold spring 

 seem to have much interfered with the labours of exhibitors, for there was 

 never a better show than this at the Crystal Palace. To enumerate all that 

 deserves mention would be to report beyond reasonable length ; for the nave 

 and transept were crowded with contributions as well as with visitors, and the 

 spectacle was as grand as on any former occasion of the most brilliant floral 

 displays. Mr. Lane, Mr. Turner, and Mr. Paul were each great in roses ; 

 Mr. Turner best in tulips, though there were many flowers in his lots wanting 

 in quality. Azaleas were magnificent, pelargoniums not over abundant, but 

 good, calceolarias in full beauty, and some of the specimens wonderfully well 

 grown and bloomed. Fine-foliaged plants are even more in the ascendant 

 than this time last year, and several of the newly-introduced caladiums and 

 begonias were shown in the best exhibition style possible. Mr. Smith of 



