164 



EEPORT OF THE COUNCIL. 



of arrears due by Fellows, and remaining unpaid, had been more 

 diminished than it is found to be. The Council are still engaged 

 in endeavouring, by the means at their disposal, to reduce the 

 arrears still further ; and they trust that their efforts will be 

 eventually crowned by success. 



The Council deem it necessary here to state, that the number 

 of Fellows elected continues to be smaller than that of those who 

 die, or for various reasons quit the Society ; the number of 

 Fellows at the present time being 1233, wliich is 19 fewer than 

 at the anniversary in 1845. 



It does not, however, appear that the prosperity of the Society 

 is at present affected by this circumstance, so very large a por- 

 tion of its income being derived from the Exhibitions at the 

 Garden, which annually add a very considerable sum to the 

 ordinary income of the Society derived from subscriptions and 

 the admission fees of Fellows. The funds thus obtained have 

 been so largely furnished that they have enabled the Council 

 not only to reduce the debt to the extent above stated, and to 

 maintain the efficiency of the Society, but also to expend 

 very considerable sums in medals and rewards to meritorious 

 gardeners. 



The following return shows the number of visitors to the 

 Garden Exhibitions in each year since 1840 : — 



1841. May 

 June 

 July 



1842. May 

 June 

 July 



11,137 



5,600 



8,957 

 7,194 



21,769 



5,369 



13,351 



3,445 



22,165 



1844. May 

 June 

 July 



1845. May 

 June 

 July 



23,450 



4,367 



13,517 



6,596 



24,480 



3,641 



12,550 



6,186 



22,377 



