130 



JOUKNAIi OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 



[ February 13, 1868. 



did, tliat paid services T^ere nincb better than nupaid services. Mr. 

 Liggins had considered it right to throw a slight upon their Secretary 

 because he had left the reading of the Report to the Assistant Secretary-. 

 If his (the speaker's) memory was not bad, the Assistant Secretaiy 

 had always read the Report, and he recollected that Dr. Liudley when 

 Assistant Secretary always read it. Xow, he would give a reason why their 

 Secretary should not read the Report, and it was this — Colonel Scott 

 bad been doing them the favour of looking over their affairs, and they 

 paid him nothing for doing so [applause "!. They therefore had no 

 right to call upon him to do anything. Of his own good will and com- 

 petency Colonel Scott was prepared to do anything for them : and 

 instead, therefore, of asking inquisitorial questiouR of " What duties 

 did he discharge ?" and " What amount of salary was he paid ?" Mr. 

 liigginfi ought to have informed himself whether he wrt.v paid, and, 

 ascertaining the fact that he was paid, Mr. Liggins might then have 

 been justified in asking how much. But it happened that Colonel 

 Scott was paid nothing, and he did not think Mr. Liggins was entitled 

 to ask any questions about the duties discharged. He (Mr. Cole) had 

 no doubt that services to be responsible should be paid for. They 

 had been asked why they had chosen Colonel Scott to fulfil the duties 

 of Secretary. He answered. Because Colonel Scott was the best man, 

 and he was willing to give his services unpaid. Colonel Scott was a 

 man of science and administrative ability. " The proof of the pudding 

 is in the eating;' and he (Mr. Cole), did not hesitate to say that, 

 long as the Royal Horticultural Society had been established it had 

 never as favourable a balance sheet as at the present moment, and it 

 ■was the first time in his recollection that the Society had cleared off 

 a great deal of its liabilities. He was much obliged to Mr. I^iggius 

 for being inquisitive and giving bim (Mr. Cole) an opportunity to 

 vindicate the character of his friend. In the matter of elections they 

 had followed the course adopted for a great number of years. Their 

 Secretary was not a paid Secretary, and it had been the custom for 

 years for the Assistant Secretary to read the Reports ; and if they 

 spent a fortnight in investigating the accounts he did not think they 

 ■would be in a more satisfactory position than at present. He thought 

 it would be sufficient to take the fact as it stood, that during the past 

 year they had paid off £900 without incurring any liability [applause J. 



Mr. iiioGi.Ns did not think it ■was right of a fellow " Fellow " 

 [a laughj, to stigmatise his inquiries as " inquisitorial." He thought 

 be had a right to ask questions ; aud really he knew no more about 

 Colonel Scott tlinn " the man in the moon." He (Mr. Liggins) had 

 always found their Assistant Secretary a gentleman of intelligence, 

 energy, and activity, and who was always at his work. He did not 

 like honorary sei-vice ; and he should like to have a paid secretary. 

 He wanted a gentleman who was able to draw up a report : and he 

 did not see any pai-ticular merit in the drawing-up of that Report. 

 "What he (Mr. Liggins! wanted was that the accounts should be fur- 

 nished earlier, so that the members might see what was in them, and 

 the same with the Report. It was no use telling him that things were 

 as good as they used to be, he wanted them better than they were [hear, 

 hear] even at present, and it was clear that others on his (Mr. Lig- 

 gins's) side of the room adojited similar views. He remembered Dr. 

 Lindley, who was a very able scientific man, giving lectures some 

 twenty-five years ago, and he thought it was quite proper that he 

 should have the assistance of a younger man to read: but, if he was 

 not mistaken, he had heard their "late Secretary read the Report. By 

 llis previous remarks he did not intend any offence, as he was entirely 

 ignorant, aud was simply asking for information ; therefore he did not 

 think it right for a member of the Council to say that he was im- 

 pertinent. 



The CH.\rRM.\x said they had never had a more efficient Secretary. 

 Colonel Scott was a man of science, capable of mastering accounts, and 

 thoroughly devoted to the advancement of horticulture. 



Mr. Blexkiss had been present at nearly all the Committee Meet- 

 ings, and he only knew their Secretary to "be once absent from his 

 post. 



Mr. Liggins.— I do not know Colonel Scott ; I never knew him, 

 nor do I know any gentleman on the platform. 



Mr. Blexkins wished to say a few words respecting the report of the 

 Chiswick Board. He observed that the Directors said " They would 

 have desired to have effected something more than has been found 

 possible in regard to the keeping of certain portions of the garden ; 

 but the labour rate at their disposal has proved iusuflicient for the 

 purpose, and they therefore recommend a slight increase of expendi- 

 ture under this head." He (Mr. Blenkins) had no doubt— indeed, 

 there could be no doubt, they had all enjoyed their visits to Chiswick; 

 hut whenever they had done so they would not have faUed to observe 

 the quantity of waste land at the sides, which might have been brought 

 into successful cultivation. He thought it was extremely desirable 

 when the finances of the Society were better, that something more 

 should be given to the support of Cliiswiuk Garden. They would 

 be glad to see that waste land cultivated, and they would find it 

 to be a remuuerative step. He saw the revenue was greater than on 

 former occasions, and he thought a few hundred pounds spent on the 

 •waste land that was now perfectly unproductive, would bring in a 

 good amount of funds to the Society. Those who made periodical 

 visits to Chiswick Gardens would appreciate the advantages of such a 

 step, and be therefore tmsted that the recommendations of the Chis- 

 wick Board would receive the support they deserved. 



The Chairman said as far as their means went they would endea- 



vour to carry out the recommendations of the Chiswick Board. They, 

 as a Horticultural Society, would not be able to carry out their la- 

 bours without Chiswick, and the more money they expended on Chis- 

 wick the more they would advance horticulture. He should be glad 

 to see them have the means at their command to do so. If they were 

 successful (and their funds were gradually iucreasing, so that they 

 would have more at their command), he thought the Council would 

 put to the Chiswick account more than ever. 



Mr. Edgar Bowking. C.B., was anxious to say a few words as to 

 the admirable way in which the duties of Secretary were fulfilled by 

 Colonel Scott, although he (Mr. Edgar Bowring), could not go quite 

 the length of some previous speakers, implying that the gallant 

 Colonel was the best Secretary they ever had. for he remembered the 

 able tenure of that office by their esteemed friend and Chairman, Mr. 

 'Wilson Saunders [hear, hear] : but that the duties were most effi- 

 ciently performed by Colonel Scott no one could for a moment doubt. 

 He (Mr. Edgar BowringI, was glad to be able to speak of the amicable 

 arrangement that had been como to with the International Horticml- 

 tnral Committee, and the satisfactory proceedings which had resnlted.- 

 but had hardly seemed probable. Both parties had done him the 

 honour to invite him to attend, iimiriis ntiiir, in which capacity his 

 first advice was to let bygones he bygones. All agreeing in that spirit, 

 the upshot had been the investment of the bulance of £1850, which 

 had been devoted to the purchase of the library, which he said would 

 prove of the greatest possible service to the Horticultural Society. 

 It had been invested in trustees, and would remain their property as 

 long as the Horticultural Society remained tenants of their present 

 grounds. He hoped they wonld have its contents added to by gifts 

 and bequests. Refening "to the accounts, he did not see any balance in 

 their favour, but they had got off a great deal of debt. Their receipts 

 had been influenced by th(! doubtful weather aud the coutinued effects 

 of the financial panic. He trusted that their future financial position 

 would be satisfactory. He presumed the Coimcil had not been able 

 clearly to see their way whereby the debenture-holders at 4 per cent, 

 couldbe altered in favour of the Society by giving more tree adinis- 

 sions ; bnt he (Mr. Edgar BowringI, had no doubt that if anything 

 could he done it would [hear, hear]. The only item of expenditure 

 that he took exception to was that for repairs, which he considered a 

 good deal too small, and they might depend upon it that if they did 

 not keep up their repairs thcii- negligence would find them out some 

 day. He might remark, adverting to some observations by a prior 

 speaker, that according to their bye-laws, the accounts were to be 

 ready a week before the day of meeting, when any gentleman, by 

 applying, could have a copy of them supplied to him. 



The CiiAinMAx said the "sending-out to the members a copy of the 

 accounts before the meeting wonld be taken under the consideration of 

 the Council- 

 Major Trevor Claeki; in referring to what fell from Mr. Liggins, 

 said he had no doubt that gentleman had spoken in honest ignorance 

 of what Colonel Scott had done for the Society ; but when allusion was 

 made to a certain number of persons behind him ha^-ing a fellow 

 feeling, he (Major Clarke), would say that the vast majority of that 

 Society knew Colonel Scott veiT well, and they would endorse the 

 opinion that the Society were much indebted to Colonel Scott for the 

 financial and social posi'tion they enjoyed, and they must feel convinced 

 that he had saved the Society a' great deal [applause]. 



Mr. Liggins wonld merelv observe that there could be no difficnlty 

 in the accounts and Report 'being sent to the members, as they were 

 ready, it now appeared, a week before the meeting. 



Mr. Murray.— It was purely a question of expense of postage,. 

 and whether it was necessary. 



The Scrutineers then delivered in the balloting papers, and the list 

 of officers declai-ed to be elected for the ensuing year is as foUowa :— 

 President, His Grace the Duke of Buccleuch : Treasurer, Mr. John 

 Clntton; Secretarv, Lieut.-Col. Scott, R.E. ; Expenses Committee- 

 men Mr. .John Clutton, Lieut.-Col. Scott, K.E., and Mr. Henry Cole, 

 C.B. ; Anditors, Mr. James Nicholson, Mr. John Gibson, and Mr. 

 Robert Hudson, F.R.S. 



The retiring members of Council being Viscount Sandon, Mr. Went- 

 worth 'W. Euller, and the Rev. Joshua Dix, the gentlemen elected 

 to succeed were Mr. John Clntt.m, Mr. J. Russell Reeves, F.R.S.,and 

 Mr. WiUiam Marshall, of ICnfield. 



Mr. Liggins having seconded the motion for the adoption of the 

 Report, it was carried unanimously. 



Mr. Liggins then said he had mnch pleasure in proposing a vote ol 

 thanks to the Chairman. Council, and Lieut.-Colonel Scott, the 

 Secretary [cheers], for the adv.intages which the Fellows had derived 

 from their services. . 



Captain Do^bman seconded the motion, which was earned by 

 acclamation. .^ i. i, t j 



The Chairman, in acknowledging the compliment, said he believeo 

 the interests of the Society were well cared for by the Council, who 

 spared no trouble to fulfil their duties. 



The business of the Meeting then terminated. 



Report of the Coi-ncil to the CiENER.iL Meeting. 

 1. The Council is happv to be able to make, on the whole, a satis- 

 factory Report to the Fello"ws of the present state and future prospects 

 , of the Society. The subscriptions received from Fellows during the 



