MAY 1. 1849. 177 



As it has been found that, notwithstanding the higher encou- 

 ragement given by the Society to tlie exhibitions of fruit, the 

 specimens produced are by no means equal in merit to those of 

 flowers, it has appeared to tlie Council no longer advisable to 

 offer large prizes for fruit in May and June ; and it has, there- 

 fore, been determined, without excluding fruit in these months, 

 to confine the competition to July, when the season offers greater 

 facilities for exhibition. On that occasion, moreover, the usual 

 prizes are augmented by three, of the respective values of 15/., 

 10/., and 5/., to be given to the three best collections of fruit. 

 It is to be hoped that the result of this measure will be to render 

 the fruit more worthy of the higli character wliich belongs to 

 English gardening. At the same time some other alterations 

 have been made in the prizes offered for flowering plants, with a 

 view to secure a better distribution of them. Tliese changes 

 will, it is expected, produce some diminution of the heavy ex- 

 penses attending the exhibitions ; but, on the other hand, the 

 account for 1849 will be chargeable with above 300/. for the 

 purchase of new tents, to replace old ones wliich have been 

 ruined by bad weather, or otherwise worn out. 



The actual cost incurred by the Society in this part of its 

 expenditure was 2579/. 4^. Id., as detailed in the following com- 

 parative account : — 



