REPORT FROM THE COUNCIL 



ANNIVERSARY MEETING, MAY 1, 1852. 



At the last Anniversary the Council had to report that the 

 debt of the Society had been increased to the extent of 1 1 1 Z. 6*. *ld. 

 in consequence of improveqients in the Garden, which had cost 

 1044/. 3*. 2d. It is now their pleasing duty to announce that 

 the debt has been reduced within the year by the sum of 

 859/. Os. Id., notwithstanding- a further expenditure upon new 

 works to the extent of 360/. 2s. 3d., and a less favourable Exhibition 

 season than was anticipated ; and the Council confidently believe 

 that this has been effected without neglecting the progressive 

 improvement of the Society's position, or the public objects for 

 which it was incorporated. 



To the following statement, which has been laid before the 

 Council on the part of the Garden Committee, the attention of 

 the Meeting is invited in the first place. 



The Exhibitions in the Society's Garden have fully maintained 

 their great reputation as examples of the ever increasing skill of 

 English Gardeners in the art of cultivation. The tables, although 

 extended so as to receive a much larger number of plants than 

 formerly, were more crowded than ever with magnificent speci- 

 mens, among whicli it was observed that variety was displayed 

 more conspicuously than usual. 



The new regulations under which Fellows of the Society and 

 friends are admitted an hour and a half earlier than others, 

 appeared to give much satisfaction, and worked so well that the 

 Council were induced to extend the privilege beyond its original 

 limits ; so that now, not only can any Fellow of the Society enter 

 free at half- past 12, and introduce one friend with a ticket, but 

 the privilege may be transferred to a brother, sister, son, daugh- 

 ter, father, mother, or wife, residing in the Fellow's liouse, 

 provided the person to whom the transfer is made be furnished 

 with a ticket signed by that Fellow. That is to say, the privi- 

 lege of entering early may be largely transferred, but not the 

 privilege of free admission. 



VOL. vir. N 



