February lit, ISCH. ] 



JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



131 



past year amount to £8027, as eomparod with t'8176 in 18GG, £7975 

 in 1H(;5, and £7S'10 in 18tJ4. Oho Rratifyiuj; wi^n of growing conti- 

 (louco in tlio fntnio of tlie Society is the fact of twenty-tive okl FuUows 

 of the Society, who Iiml rosiguixl, liaving again become members. 



*2. A new and must Ifgitiniate and promising source of future in- 

 come has also been opt'in-d, \vliile a wider splicro has at tlic same time 

 been given to the npuratioiis of the Society. The Kxhibition at Bury 

 St. Kdmuuds, which was announced in last year's Report, has moro 

 tban answered the most sanguine expoctations of its promoters. In 

 spite of unpropitiou« wcatlior, it proved not only eminently successful 

 as ft Horticultunil lOxhibition, but also as a linancial speculation. 

 The Council eonliiUntly anticipates a still more decided success from 

 the Show which it is proposed to hold this year at Leicester ; for there 

 is no reason to doubt that tho interest, groat as it was, which was 

 taken in tho snecoss of their Show by the horticuUnrists of Bury St. 

 Kdmuudsand its neighbourhood will be at least e(|ualled at Leicester, 

 while tho population of the latter town is very much gi-eater. The 

 deputation whicli was sent by the Society to maku the necessax-y 

 arrangements there met. moreover, with the most gratifying assurances 

 of support; a guarantee fund was raised in the town without any 

 diiUculty, and sp.x^ial prizes to a large amount have already been 

 promised. The Autumnal Provincial Shows thus bid fair to become 

 one of the most effectual and popular means of fuvthuring the objects 

 for wliich the Society is incorporated ; and, while they may be ex- 

 pected to add considerably to tho funds of the Society, will tend to 

 t'ucourage and promote tho study and lovo of horticnitnre throughout 

 the country. 



'^. Tho Council refer also with the mor^t lively satisfaction to 

 another evidence of the increasing usefulness and spreading influence 

 of the Society. There are now no less than fifty-two Floricultural and 

 Horticultural Societies in anion, and of these twenty-foui* joined during 

 the past year. 



4. The accounts of the Society, which have been placed in tho 

 hands of the Fellows, will further show that the Council didnot take too 

 hopeful a view of the affairs of the Society when at this time last year 

 they expressed the opinion that, though requiring strict economy, its 

 affairs were in an encouraging position ; notwithstanding all the draw- 

 backs arising from the serious monetary depression of the last two 

 years, it will be seen that its revenue for 1S07 has considerably exceeded 

 the outlay necessary to cany on its work. The only items on which 

 the Conncil have pei'raitted any increase of expenditure over that of 

 former years are those relating to Chiswick Garden ; and the Fellows 

 will observe that the Chiswick Board state in the annexed Report that, 

 even with this increase, moro funds are wanted to bring the Society's 

 working at that place into full offieieno}-. The Council, therefore, in 

 tho belief that a judicions outlay in the manner suggested in the Re- 

 port alluded to will result in increased produce, as well as increase of 

 general usefulness, have made some further additions to the Chiswick 

 labonr item for this year. 



5. The labours at Chiswick daring the past season have met with 

 much success. M. Bausc, the foreman of the Floral Department, has 

 succeeded in the production of an entirely new race of golden-leaved 

 Caladiums ; and in the Pomological Department many interesting 

 trials of vaiieties of Fruits and Vegetables have been carried out, in- 

 cluding one of a valuable collection of Figs. The Fellows are referred 

 to tho Report of the Chiswick Board of Direction for fuUerinformation 

 on these subjects, ani their attention is particularly called to the request 

 of the Board that any Fellows of the Society who may possess uacom- 

 mon and attractive species of hardy herbaceous perennials will aid the 

 Chiswick collection of plants of this character by contributions of such 

 us they can spare, or by gifts of seeds. 



H. The Council call attention to the annexed Repoi-t of the Ex- 

 aminations in Horticulture for the past year. The success of the 

 Chiswick students is particularly gratifying ; and the Council have 

 now, in compliance with the recommendation of the Horticultural 

 Directors, an-anged for proriding a few Lectures and Demonstrations 

 in aid of the practical studies of these young men. 



7. The Meetings of the Fruit and Floral Committees have been as 

 nsual very well attended during the past season, and the Council have 

 reason to believe that the valuable labours of the gentlemen composing 

 tliese Committees greatly inflneuce the progress of Horticulture 

 throughout the country. The Afternoon General Meetings, also, 

 which follow the Committee Meetings, have been most successful, both 

 as respects the appreciation of them by the Fellows and the subjects 

 which have been discussed. The results of the various Meetings and 

 Exhibitions of the Society will appear in the forthcoming number of 

 the Journal, edited by the Rev. M, J. Berkeley. 



8. The four days' Show of June last, held in the Great Tent, was 

 a great success in a Horticultural point of view. Various opinions for 

 and against the continuance of a Show beyond the first or second day 

 liave been offered ; but as yet the Council see no reason to regi-et that 

 they have made the experiment, and they propose to repeat it this 

 year. The Exhibition of June last was iudeed continued for a whole 

 week, the greater number of the Exhibitors having at onee (in many 

 cases at considerable inconvenience), acceded to the Council's wish to 

 have it kept open on the ^Vhit Monday, The Council have also added 

 a second day to the Special Prize Sho'w. The only other alteration of 

 the last year's programme is the breaMng-up of the two Spring 

 Shows into three, with a slight addition to the total amount offered in 

 prizes. The charming fortnight's Show of Spring Flowers will be re- 



peated on an incrcasod scale. The Society is under great obligations 

 to Mr. W. Paul for tho spirit and energy he displayed in this Exhibi- 

 tion, which has now become so prized a feature of the Society's yearly 

 arrangements. Messrs. hn.no it Son. Berkhampstead, will also make 

 an Exhibition in the Arcades of their Plants and Flowers during the 

 uionth of April ; and Messrs. Waterer iV' Godfrey's Exhibition of 

 Rliododendrons, discontinued last year in consequence of the damage 

 done by tho severe frosts, will, the Conncil hope, again bo counted this 

 year among the attractions of the Gai'dens. 



i). The Council have, iu former Reports, made known to the Fel- 

 lows that the Exhibitions of the Society are no longer a source of in- 

 come as formerly, but now involve a considerable loss. Each season 

 renders a recovery from this condition of tilings more unlikely. The 

 expenditure on last year's Exhibitions was £1727 18s. 3;/.; tho re- 

 ceipts only £1402 7s. ^^d. It is manifest, therefore, that the Society 

 must proceed with cautiou in again attempting any increase in their 

 number. Nevertheless, the Council think very well of the proposition 

 that has been made to them to add to theii- programme some small 

 Shows of special subjects, which would otherwise escape competition, 

 owing to their timo of tloweiing not coinciding with the London season ; 

 and tJiey will be quite prepared to give facilities for holding such minor 

 Shows as may appear to liave interest for a suthcient number of culti- 

 vators and admirers to give a probability of success. The best test of 

 such interest would be n proposition on the part of horticulturists to 

 make special Shows, as has already been done by the cultivators and 

 admirers of Zonal Pelargoniums. The Zonal Pelargonium Show oi 

 last season, will this year have gi'own into a very important Exhi- 

 bition. 



10. The Committee of the International Horticultural Exhibition 

 have geuoi'ously applied the whole of their remaining surplus funds to 

 the acquisition of a Library, to be held in trust for the use of the Society. 

 The only condition annexed is one which tlie Council are vei-y glad 

 to accede to — viz, that the Library, under proper restrictions, shall 

 be open for consultation to all Horticulturists and Students who may 

 wish to refer to it. The Trustees consist of three officers of the Com- 

 mittee and three officers of the Council, who are to appoint a seventh 

 member. The arrangements of the Board include the purchase from 

 the Society of the Lindley Library. This Library, and also a col- 

 lection of works the property of the Society, will shortly be placed in 

 the Conncil Room. 



11. In their Report, presented in the year ISOG, the Council made 

 allusion to the contemplated erection of the Royal Albert Hall of Arts 

 and Sciences, as likely to add an additional attraction to the gardens 

 of the Society. Daring the past year the foundation stone of the build- 

 ing was laid by Her Most Gracious Majesty tho Queen, and its walls 

 are now fast rising. The Council are making arrangements with the 

 Provisional Committee of that undertaking, from which mutual ad- 

 vantages will he derived. These arrangements will include convenient 

 access to the Hall from the Society's Conservatory. 



12. In conclusion, the Council have pleasure in announcing that the 

 claim put forward by them for the recognition of the important 

 services to Horticulture of the old and valued officer of the Society, 

 Mr. Thompson, has resulted in a subscription which at present amounts 

 to £360. Some account of his labours, and a list of the subscribers, 

 were given in the Proceedings of the Society issued last month. 



Report to the Council from the Chiswick Board of Directors^ 

 December 1867. 



1. The Directors have the satisfaction of reporting that the Chis- 

 wick Garden has been thoroughly utilised during the past season, and 

 that the cultural results, under the eilicient superintendence of Mr. 

 Barron, have been fully equal to those of former years. They would 

 have desired to have effected something more than has been found 

 ])ossible iu regard to the keeping of certain portions of the garden, but 

 the labour rate at then- disposal has proved insufficient for the purpose, 

 and they therefore recommend a slight increase of expenditure under 

 this head. 



2. The experiment which has been made with reference to the 

 employment of Students for the performance of a portion of the work 

 of the garden has, so far fairly answered the expectations of its promoters ; 

 and the Directors, but for the outlay involved, would willingly extend 

 it, so as to offer its advantages to a larger number of young men anxionp 

 to use the best means of advancing themselves in tlieir profession. 

 They, however, having past experience in view, think it would be ad- 

 vantageous to provide for the entiy of somewhat younger men than the 

 present regulations will admit. They also think that a few Lecturer 

 and Demonsti-ations in aid of the practical studies of these youngmen. 

 such as were originally contemplated, would now prove a valuable aid 

 to them. 



3. Tho Directors trust that the Society may rely on a continuance 

 of the aid which has been so generously and efficiently afforded to the 

 Chiswick collection by those gentlemen who have obligingly contributed 

 novelties for the various trial collections, since they believe that those 

 experimental trials have more effectually and widely diffused a correct 

 knowledge of the recent acquisitions for the Flower, Fruit, and 

 Vegetable gardens than could have been brought about by any other 

 ready means. They are highly gratified to he able to state that these 

 trial collections, and the standard sorts grown for comparison with them, 

 are sought for with much interest by numerous visitors at the proper 

 season. 



