MAY 1, 1854. 



187 



therefore urged to exercise their individual influence, in proposing 

 new Fellows for election. Such co-operation affords the readiest 

 means of enabling the Council to maintain the Society in a per- 

 manent state of efficiency. They would further add that the 

 forty-one elections that have this year taken place, were upon the 

 recommendation of only twenty-seven Fellows. 



The Admission fee being only 2Z. iis. Od. and the Annual 

 Subscription not being in advance, every facility is given to 

 candidates for admission, and the Council are persuaded that if 

 this were more extensively known, it may be expected that our 

 numbers will again increase, especially when the solid advantages 

 connected with the Fellowship of the Society are better appreciated. 



From the mere distribution of plants and seeds, no inconsidera- 

 ble advantage is derived, as is shown by the following return. 



When it is considered that the distribution of such articles is 

 necessarily governed by the general principle that nothing shall 

 be propagated which can be procured readily among nurserymen, 

 it will be seen that these figures represent a considerable amount 

 of value. The increasing demands made for Kitchen Garden and 

 other seeds, which are procured from the Continent and given 

 away as samples of what esculents of the finest quality should be, 

 attest the advantage that is derived from the continual dispersion 

 of such articles through the country. The Council believe 

 that the propagation of novelties in the Garden is more successful 

 now than it has ever been before, the organisation of the distri- 

 bution department having been greatly improved of late years ; 

 and they anticipate largely increased activity in this department 

 as soon as the collections to be made in Mexico by Mr. Botteri, 

 now engaged in the service of the Society, shall have begun to 

 arrive in England. 



Many unforeseen circumstances detained this gentleman in 

 Dalmatia much longer than was anticipated. When he undertook 



