1888-89.] President's Address. 371 



be a devoted worker, and his paper is one of the most 

 valuable that has appeared in our Transactions for several 

 years. We expect another communication from Professor 

 Trail this Session on the Fungi of Norway, and this paper 

 will greatly enrich oui' Transactions. 



There is another subject of the utmost importance to this 

 Society, to which I must refer before I close, namely, the 

 transfer of the Eoyal Botanic Garden from the Crown to the 

 University of Edinburgh. This subject has already engaged 

 the attention of the Society, and must of necessity do so still. 

 If such a transfer should take place, it will be unfortunate 

 for this Society, and for horticulture and botanical science in 

 Scotland. 



It is a curious and significant fact, that this transference 

 is desired only by Government — but by Government of both 

 shades of politics — and by no other party. The University 

 authorities do not wish it; the Town Council and the citizens 

 of Edinburgh are equally opposed to it ; the Kegius Keeper 

 and other officials in the Garden are also strongly opposed to 

 it; and notwithstanding this powerful opposition, one Govern- 

 ment after another has tried to force this upon us. It be- 

 comes all of us, therefore, to use whatever influence we possess 

 with members of Parliament to prevent such an unfortunate 

 transference. If London has a Kew, and Dublin a Glasnevin, 

 surely Edmburgh should have her Pioyal Botanic Garden in 

 Inverleith Eow. I wish the University authorities could 

 influence their Lord Eector to save the University from what 

 the late Professor Dickson said could only be a " white 

 elephant " to them. The removal of tlie clause about the 

 Botanic Garden from the Universities Bill need not affect 

 the passing of the Bill in the least. 



I have also to congratulate the Society on the publication 

 of the Transactions of the past Session in time to be delivered 

 to the members at our first meeting of a new Session. 



During the past Session there have been added to our list 

 12 Resident Fellows, 2 Non-Piesident Fellows, and 2 Foreign 

 Fellows, — in all, 16 new members, which is above the 

 average. 



We are to-night commencing the 5 3rd Session of our 

 Society, and I hope the Session of 1888-89 will be one of 

 great prosperity. 



