MAY 1, 1851. 203 



The number of packets of seeds given to each applicant cannot be 

 ascertained. 



The number of plants distributed from April 30, 1849, to May 1, 1850, 

 averaged 16 each among 368 applicants. 



"While remodelling the Distribution Department, the Com- 

 mittee necessarily directed their attention to the charge for 

 labour of other descriptions, which they have thought unequal to 

 the results obtained from it. This they believe has, in a great 

 degree, arisen from the system of filling up all the permanent 

 places in the Garden with young men, usually about twenty 

 years old, recommended by Fellows of the Society, possessing 

 little skill as gardeners, and inferior in physical powers to the 

 ordinary labourers of the neighbourhood. The Committee 

 therefore recommended, and the Council acquiesced in, the 

 limitation of the number of men employed in the Garden upon 

 the recommendation of Fellows and for no other reason, to 

 eight, all of whom are to be of the full age of twenty-two when 

 received into the Garden ; the remainder of the men to consist 

 of more skilful persons, with higher wages than before, and of 

 mere labourers. This arrangement has been carried out from 

 the 1st of the present month, and the Committee are of opinion 

 that it will not be attended with increased expense, although it 

 will introduce more efficiency among the workmen. 



No collector of plants being now^ in the employment of the 

 Society, and the Society's subscription to the Scotch Expedition 

 to Oregon, mentioned in the last Report, not having yet pro- 

 duced a result, the Committee have possessed no other means 

 of raising new plants for distribution than such as have been 

 furnished by the liberality of the correspondents of the Society. 

 Among these are to be specially mentioned a box of Koordistan 

 acorns, transmitted by H. H. Layard, Esq., the discoverer of 

 the antiquities of Nineveh, and which it is hoped will prove of 

 considerable importance ; seeds of the magnificent new Rhodoleia 

 Championi of Hong Kong, from C. J. Braine, Esq. and Capt. 

 Ciiampioii ; Sikkim Larch seeds, from Dr. Hooker ; and seeds 

 of the Witheringia superba of Weddell, from J. B. Pentland, 

 Esq. 



To these must be added the following : — 



From the Honourable Court of Directors of the East India Company, 



Lilium Wallichianum and various Orchids. 

 From Capt. Elliot, 6 kinds of Seeds from Greece, some small Oaks, an 



Amaryllis Bulb, and 4 other Plants. 

 From G. U. Skinner, Esq., Zamia Nuts, a few Orchids, and 2 papers of 



Asclepias Seed. 

 From H. F. Hance, Esq., Viola Patrinii, from Hong Kong. 

 From J. E. Winterbottom, Esq., a collection of Seeds from the North 



of India. 



