MONTHLY SUMMARY. 81 



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Society's well lias only been lowered 16 inches by the same 

 amount of pumping. The supply of the Society's well may, 

 therefore, be fairly reckoned to be many times larger than that from 

 the Trafalgar- square well, which previously was the largest in 

 London.* It will also be observed that the standing-level of the 

 Society's well 13 in point of ilxct actually considerably higher than 

 that of the Trafalgar-sq^uare. This may perhaps be accounted 

 for by the greater number of other Artesian wells sunk to the 

 eastward of the latter, and possibly also by its being nearer to 

 the outlet of the water. The Fellows may, therefore, congratu- 

 late themselves on possessing the finest well in the Metropolis, 

 To form some idea of what such a phrase really implies, and of 

 the importance of their possession, we must calculate what the 

 supply which could be furnished would bring if it could be sold 



at the price charged by the Water Companies, viz. Gi. per 

 thousand gallons* 



Assuming that the well at Kensington can furnish 1,000,000 

 gallons per day, and that it could be utilised, it would, on the 

 same rates, and allowing for larger engines to work it, yield 

 a yearly return of 7500?. in the gross to the Society, or above 

 5500Z, net profit. 



Such speculations are not unreasonable, neither are they out of 

 place. The Koyal Horticultural Society may not choose to add to 

 its other duties and names, that of " Water Company (Limited) ; " 

 but it is an important thing for the Fellows to know that they do 

 possess a very valuable property, which might be turned to good 

 practical commercial account, should occasion ever demand it. 



; Debentures. — A very few of these securities may now be had 

 by application to the Assistant Secretary. In consequence of the 

 resolution of the Council to reduce the rate of interest from 5 to 

 4 per cento a portion of the Debenture holders preferred to be 

 paid off. Applicants who had previously been disappointed in 

 obtaining Debentures, at once took up the greater number 

 of those so released — but a few still remain. Each lOOZ. 

 Debenture confers the privilege of one admission, transferable by 

 registration "(on payment of a iSmall fee), besides interest at 

 4 per cent. 



* The wells of the Kent Waterworks Company probably yield a yet larger 

 "supply, "but they can hardly be reckoned to be within the limits of London, 



