HORTICCLTURAL SOCIF.TT OP LONDON. 



229 



blif^hed themselves in the soil ; climbing plants are rapidly 

 extending themselves in festoons along ihe roof, and the general 

 health of the collection enables the Council to congratulate the 

 Society upon so important an addition to their property as this 

 Conservatory proves to be. During the hottest days of last sum- 

 mer the temperature of the house did not exceed that of the 

 external air, bv more than 1 1^, and that on only one occasion : 

 and during the past severe winter it was found, that, although 

 it was designedly kept as low as 36'^ yet there would have 

 been little difficulty in maintaining a temperature of 4.'j'^, even 

 in windy weather with the external temperature 10", had it 

 been desirable to do so. Some difficulties, doubtless, arose in 

 managins: a house of so novel a description, especially in counter- 

 acting the effect of the unimpeded rays of the sun upon newly 

 planted trees, and specimens in pots unaccustomed to so bright a 

 light. These, however, have been in the majority of cases over- 

 come ; onlv a small number of old ill rooted plants having died. 

 Some of the plants in pots, indeed, became sickly, or drooped 

 beneath the influence of the noon-day sun ; but it was found, 

 that this was caused by the force with which the solar rays 

 struck upon the sides of the pots, and the difficulty was therefore 

 overcome by plunging the pots in a bed of damp moss. Among 

 other things this house seems to have shewn that plants may be 

 maintained in health without being shaded from the sun 3 and if 

 it should hereafter prove necessary to add the awning, for which 

 provision was made in the original construction of the buildino:, 

 or to intercept light by any other means, it will be more for the 

 sake of the visitors than of the plants. 



Manv additions have been made to the Society s Collections 

 in the course of the year. Some remarkable fruit trees have 

 been received from Syria, among which are the Apricot of 

 Mount Cassius, and that of Damascus, both varieties with sweet 

 kernels, the latter being that which is dried for exportation : they 

 were however in bad condition. Many contributions of seeds of 

 ornamental plants have also been made, among which may be in the 

 first place mentioned a large number of packets from the Honour- 

 able Court of Directors of the East India Company, New Holland 

 seeds from Capt. James Mangles, R.N., Sir George Murray 

 Thomas Lloyd, Esq., and His Excellency Governor Grey ; and 

 Malacca seeds from Mr. Cuming. 



The DISTRIBUTIONS have amounted to S..35.5 plants, 45,405 ^ 

 packets of seeds, and 6,897 parcels of cuttings. 



Experimental enquiries have been by no means neglected. 

 The Council however do no advert to them in this place because 

 they have ordered them to be reported to the Garden Committee . 

 monthly, and then to be incorporated in the printed " Proceed- 



