92 



NEWS OF THE MONTH. 



EoYAL HoETicuLTCRAL SOCIETY. — On Tuesday, Feb. 13, the onnnal general 

 meeting took place in the council-ruom, the Duke of Buccleuch in the chair. The 

 report stated that the number of fellows increases, and there is also a steady increase 

 of subscriptions. The admissions were in 1863, 115,521; 1864, 185,692; 1865, 

 231,519. The balance-sheet showed that the total income during the past year 

 amounted to £15,407 15s. 3d, of which ±'7975 Is. Id. resulted from annual sub- 

 scriptions, £680 3s. 8d. sale of garden produce, £991 4$. lid. daily admis- 

 sions and promenades, £1641 3s. lid. exhibitions and fetes. On the side 

 of expenditure, -which amounted to the same total within about £380 of the 

 whole incomings, the principal items M'ere, for Chiswick, £2102 lOs. lOd. ; 

 manasement, £2253 3s. 2d. ; exhibitions, £2801 7s. ; Kensington Garden, £3150 

 10s. 6d. The ballot resulted in the re-election of the Duke of Buccleuch as presi- 

 dent ; G. F. Wilson, Esq., F.R.S., treasurer ; and Lieut-Col. Scott, E.E., secretary. 

 The new members of council selected were. Viscount Sandon, the Right Hon. W. 

 Cowj^er, M.P., and Sigismund Rucker, Esq., in the room of J. J. ]31andy, Esq., 

 John Kelk, Esq., and Maior Trevor Clarke. Respectful mention was made of the loss 

 the society and the horticultural world had sustained by the deaths of Dr. Lindley, 

 Sir Joseph Paxton, and Sir William Hooker. Among the subjects discussed were 

 the rights of fellows in respect of the International Exhibition to be held^in May 

 next, the admission of the public at merely nominal charges at certain seasons of 

 the year, and the privileges of fellows generally. The question whether during the 

 months of August and September the public _should be admitted free or at a 

 charge of threepence each was finally left in the hands of the council. The president, 

 by virtue of his office, nominated as vice-presidents for the ensuing year, EarlJ Gros- 

 venor, M.P., Lord H. Lennox, M.P , W. W. Saunders, Esq., and J. Bateman, Esq, 



United Horticultueal Society. — Having now completed twelve months of 

 its existence, the committee of this society are devoting their attention to the elabo- 

 ration of a scheme for providing gardeners with pecuniary assistance in seasons of 

 sickness and calamity, and in old age. The scheme will be carefully prepared to 

 to ensure perfect safety, and will ultimately be submitted for certification of its legality 

 according to the requirements of the I'riendly Societies Act, to Mr, Tidd Pratt, 

 The accounts for the year show that after paying the expenses of formation and all 

 the costs incident to making a new society known there is still a balance in hand 

 sufficient to start the provident scheme in a most j^romising manner. Our readers 

 ■will remember that we have explained that all surplus monies resulting from the 

 operations of the horticultural proceedings are, at the end of the year, to be handed 

 over for the benefit of the provident fund, which will no doubt also be augmented by 

 donations from persons anxious to promote tlie social welfare of gardeners, who will 

 need some such help so long as the present low rate of wages prevails. The dates 

 and places of the exhibitions for 1866 are not yet determined, no doubt they will 

 be held as last year, in the city of Loudou. We do hope, however, that the society 

 will sometimes travel a little, and hold exhibitions elsewhere. 



Exhibitions Announced. — International Exhibition and Botanical Congress, 

 Kensington, May 22 ; Royal Horticultural Society, Kensington, March 15, April 

 12, May 3, June 14, June 28 ; Royal Botanic Society, Regent's Park, March 17, 

 April 7, April 21, May 9, June 6, July 4. Continental. — Amsterdam, April 14 j 

 Ardenaerde, April 29, May 1 ; Bruges, April 1 ; Brussels, April 3 ; Frankfort, 

 March 29 ; Glient, March 4 ; Geneva, April 5 ; La Haie, April 7 ; Louvaiu, April 

 1 ; Malines, March 13. 



HiBBERD Testimonial. — The following circular has been forwarded to the 

 Editor with a request for its insertion in the Flor,vx, World. He trusts its insertion 

 •will be taken as a proof of his willingness to oblige his friends : " The promoters of 

 tliis testimonial are anxious to signify their appreciation of the public labours of Mr. 

 Shirley Ilibberd, and they respectfully invite the generoas co-operation of all who 

 share with them in admiration of the unwearied diligence, independence, public 

 spirit, and ability manifested by that gentleman during twenty years' incessant 

 activity as a journalist, lecturer, and experimental liorticulturist. The useful labours 

 to which Mr. Hibberd devotes his time and energies, teuding as they do so directly 



