ilLL 



HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



B iiiii] 



contracted for by Mr. Kelk, and tlie superintendence of the 

 whole was entrusted to a Works Committee, composed of Mr. 

 Henry Cole, C.B. ; Mr. Kichard Eedgrave, E.A. ; and Captain 

 Fowke, the chief officers of the Department of Science and 

 Art, South Kensington. 



After the project had been once finally resolved on, it was 

 pushed forward with great rapidity. Between July, 1869, when 

 the idea was first broached, and June, 1861, the date at which 

 it was fixed that the Garden should be opened, the arrange- 

 ments betwixt the Society and the Commissioners had all to 

 be completed, the necessary funds raised, the plans of the 

 Garden and arcades adjusted, and the work contracted for and 

 executed. 



The first sod was turned on Monday, the 12th of December, 

 1859, and the first brick of the buildings was laid (below the 

 present Council-room) by Mr. (now Sir Wentworth) Dilke on 

 Friday, the 30th of March, 1860, in presence of the Council and 

 a small body of those interested. 



The earthworks were greatly retarded by an excessively 

 wet summer; and it was not until October, 1860, that the 

 buUdings were commenced. These were thrown greatly behind 

 by a winter almost imprecedented for the duration and 

 severity of its frost, and by an unhappy strike of the work- 

 men in spring. Notwithstanding these drawbacks, the works 

 proceeded with a rapidity which surprised even those engaged 

 upon them. 



Dm-mg their progress, as during the preparation of the 

 plans, the supervision of the Prince was constant. His frequent 

 visits to the ground stimulated every one — Council, officials. 



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