REPORT OF THE CONFERENCE ON GENETICS. 71 
with Cypripediums, and following up his plant discoveries into the 
animal kingdom, and dealing especially with pigeons, rabbits, sheep, and 
even racehorses. 
As the recipients came forward to receive their medals at the hands of 
the President they were cheered again and again. 
Sir John T. Dillwyn-Llewelyn, Bart., then proposed “The Foreign 
and British Members of the Conference.’’ He said :—My Lords, Ladies, 
and Gentlemen,—The duty that has been placed upon me is a pleasant 
one at all times—that of proposing the health of our visitors—but it is 
especially pleasant on the present occasion. We were delighted at the 
exceedingly pleasant ceremony, through which we have just passed, at 
the hands of our excellent President. It was not upon the list—it was 
interpolated—but it is perfectly clear, by your applause, that you appre- 
ciated that ceremony very much indeed. 
The toast of “The Foreign and British Members of the Conference” 
brings to my mind the hope that we entertained from the commence- 
ment—a hope which, I believe, has been fully realised—that we might be 
permitted to allow our visitors to carry with them, on their return to 
their homes, pleasant memories of their visit to England—memories that 
their visit has been a useful one, useful to science and pleasant to them- 
selves; and I think I may say that the kindly way in which you, Sir 
Trevor, and Lady Lawrence received them at Burford yesterday will be 
perhaps almost the brightest and pleasantest part of their memories 
when they return home again. It has been said that the man is a 
benefactor to his country when he makes two blades of grass grow where 
only one grew before; and I think the efforts of our Society in bringing 
together scientific men on the one side and practical men on the other, 
have justified our efforts, because it is impossible for any horticulturist 
to see what is going on at the present day without being able to recognise 
in all branches of horticulture a justification for bringing together the 
hybridist, the botanist, and the man of science—men who have joined 
together in giving effect to their work, in giving to their seedling plants 
a larger yield, a longer period of usefulness, and greater marketable 
value—who have given their plants improved size and quality, and 
greater immunity from disease. These are points which, to my mind, 
justify the work of this Conference; and if I might refer to one other 
fact to illustrate the usefulness of what we are doing to-day it is this: 
this is the Third Conference on Plant-breeding within seven years. You 
met once before in London in 1899, and again in New York in 1902; but 
so much has been done sinee then, so much progress has been made, so 
much new knowledge has been attained, that you now find it necessary to 
meet together again in 1906; and I challenge anyone to say that the 
meetings of this Conference have been without fruit and practical value 
under the able superintendence of Mr. Bateson. It is with the very 
greatest of pleasure that I ask you to drink the toast, and I am privileged 
to ask you to join with that toast the names of those eminent and 
able men Professor Hansen, of the Department of Agriculture of the 
United States of America; Professor Tschermak, of the University of 
Vienna; M. Philippe de Vilmorin, of Paris; and Sir Michael Foster, 
K.C.B., F.R.S. I give you the toast with all my heart. o5o 
