may 2,-1853. 197 



* 



The Committee found that there had been for many years a 

 progressive increase of charge for Medals; that in 1812 it was 

 in round numbers only 719/., in 1851 1033/., and in 1852 

 1227/., so that in 1852 the value of the awards exceeded that 

 of 1851 by 194/., and that of 1842 by 508/. ; and it was possible 

 that if the schedule of 1852 remained in force, the sum awarded 

 in 1853 might amount to 1737/. 5s. Od. 



On analysing the details of the Schedule of 1852, it became 

 evident to the Committee that the great increase in the cost of 

 Medals arose principally from two causes, the one a system of 

 separate showing, by Nurserymen or Market Gardeners and 

 Private growers, and the other from the magnitude of the prizes 

 offered for Orchids, which alone received 189/. 5s. in 1852, a 

 larger sum than was given to any other class, except collections of 

 stove and greenhouse plants. 



The Committee, after a very careful consideration of the 

 various documents brought under their notice, came to the con- 

 clusion that the system of separate showing was carried to a need- 

 less as well as injurious extent, and that there no longer existed 

 any sufficient reason for placing Orchids so high among other 

 classes of Exhibition. 



The Council entirely concurred in the former of these recom- 

 mendations, and with respect to the latter, they determined for 

 the pi - esent season to reduce the scale of prizes for Orchids. At 

 the same time, taking into consideration the great and increasing 

 interest which attaches to the Exhibition of these gorgeous plants, 

 they have resolved to give, in addition to the Medals already 

 offered in the Printed Schedule, the following extra prizes : — viz., 

 To those who, in the two Exhibitions in the months of May and 

 June, shall have gained the highest amount of Medals, the 

 following Medals in addition, viz. : — 



In the class of 20 species, to the first Exhibitor the Large 

 Gold, and to the second the Gold Knightian Medal. 



In the class of 10 species, to the first Exhibitor the Gold 

 Knightian, and to the second the Gold Banksian Medal. 



In the class of 6 species, to the first Exhibitor the Gold 

 Banksian, and to the second the Silver-Gilt Medal. 



The Council having ascertained that the admission of Fellows 

 to the Garden Exhibitions, at an early hour, accompanied by one 

 friend, was unattended with inconvenience, have had very great 

 satisfaction in extending the privilege so as to enable any Fellow 

 or some member of his family as his representative to enter early 



p 2 



