1891.] ADDRESS. 37 



In 1819 the formation was begnn of a collection of models in 

 wax of tlie fruits grown in the gardens of Great Britain. 



In 1820 the Society began the construction of an experimental 

 garden, to become, as expressed in the language of its foundation, 

 " a national school for the propagation of horticultural knowledge 

 and a standard of reference for the authenticity of every species 

 of garden produce." This garden was located at Chiswick, and 

 consisted of a tract of land of thirty-three acres taken under a 

 lease renewable forever at the will of the Society. 



In 1822 two agents for the collection of plants were sent out 

 under the auspices of the Society, one of them to the Western 

 coast of South America and the West India Islands, the other to 

 the Eastern coast of Africa, to Lisbon, Madeira, Brazil, and the 

 Cape of Good Hope. 



In 1823 a second mission for the collection of plants was 

 organized, and Mr. John Dampier Parks was sent to China for 

 that purpose. In the Spring of the same year of 1823 Mr. David 

 Douglass was taken into the Society's service with the intention 

 of sending him to the coast of Chili, but the disturbed condition 

 of that country at the time made that impossible as an objective 

 point, and he was sent to the United States instead. He selected 

 from the nurseries of New York and Philadelphia such fruit 

 trees as seemed desirable, and made a botanical excursion 

 through the United States into Canada. The Council says of 

 this expedition : 



" This mission was executed by Mr. Douglass with a 

 success beyond expectation ; he obtained many plants which 

 were much wanted, and greatly increased our collection of fruit 

 trees by tiie acquisition of several sorts known to us only by 

 name. It would be unjust here to omit to mention the uniform 

 kindness and attention with which he was received in every part 

 of the United States that he visited. It is most gratifying to 

 have to add that the presents of cultivated plants to the Society 

 embraced nearly everything which it was desirous to obtain, and 

 that the liberality with which they were given was only equalled 

 by the hospitality with which the collector was received. Mr. 

 Douglass was sent in the following year on a similar expedition to 

 the mouth of the Columbia river. 



"In the same year, 1824, Mr. James McBaewas sent on a like 

 errand to the Sandwich Islands. The Society meanwhile was 



