580 SOCIETIES. [Jan. 



The Chairman addressed the meeting and expressed his pleasure 

 at the progress the Society was making. He thought a great deal 

 might be done by getting hold of the members of the Scottish 

 Society who lived in England, and get their co-operation, and in this 

 sense considered tliat a little Home liule would be healthful for the 

 Society and still preserve that kindly feeling that existed between them, 



Mr. B. Cowan, South Shields, then read an interesting paper " On 

 Trees and Shrubs suitable for the Seaside and where Alkali and 

 other Gases are prevalent," after which the meeting terminated. 



ROYAL CALEDONIAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



ri^HE annual meeting of this Society was held within the 

 .JL Music Hall buildings, Edinburgh, on the afternoon of 

 Thursday, December 17, 1885. Mr. John Methven presided. The 

 Treasurer (Mr. P. Neill Eraser) submitted an abstract of the accounts 

 for the twelve months ended 30tli November, showing the receipts 

 to be £1878, l7s. 5d., and the payments £2104, 16s. 2d., leaving 

 a deficiency of £225, 18s. 9d. For admission to shows there had 

 been drawn — Spring (two days), £462, 18s. 9d. ; summer (two 

 days), £301, 3s. 9d. ; autumn (two days), £345, 3s. lid.; winter 

 (four days), £222, 13s. 3d.— £1331, 19s. 8d. ; while the expenses 

 were — Spring show, £215, 10s. Id.; summer show, £204, 18s. 

 5d. ; autumn show, £208, 18s. Id.; winter show, £444, 18s. 5d. — 

 £1074, 5s. The total funds of the Society as at the date above 

 mentioned were set down at £1002, I7s. 8d., as compared with 

 £1249, Os. 5d. at the corresponding period of 1884. It was stated 

 that if the winter exhibition had not been held the Society would, 

 on the ordinary accounts, have had about £165 to the good. The 

 chairman thought they might consider that the money had been 

 well spent, and the Treasurer added that he was of opinion that 

 good work had been done for it. Mr. Dunn, Dalkeith Gardens, 

 observed that the winter sliow was a new venture, and that unfor- 

 tunately it fell to be held during the heat of the general elections. 

 They had also held an Apple and Pear Congress, and he believed 

 that, taking it all in all, they might congratulate themselves on 

 getting through so much work last year. The accounts were then 

 passed. The Secretary (Mr. John Stewart, W.S.) and Treasurer 

 were re-elected. On the recommendation of the Council, the Earl 

 of Eosebery was elected a vice-president ; Mr. Norrie, of the Union 

 Bank, and Mr. D. B. Laird, councillors of the Society, in room oi" 

 those who retired. The Chairman, in his remarks, said he thought it 

 was much to be regretted that the nobility in the vicinity of the 

 city did not take more interest in the Society's shows than they did. 



