

i T 



THE BOOK OF THE EOYAL 





number of elections began to increase. Since that time tlie 

 Garden Exhibitions have produced an important part of the 

 annual income of the Society. The largest sum carried to 

 account, prior to 1862, was m 1844-5, when it reached 3024/. 



With such means at command the incumbrances of the 

 Society could have been readUy liquidated, had there been no 

 other purpose to gain than that of j^aying off liabilities. But it 

 was obvious to each successive Council that, however necessary 

 to the welfare of the Society extrication from debt might be, 

 they were entrusted with the management of the Society for 

 other purposes. A part of the debt dated as far back as 1824 ; 

 the whole of it was incurred before 1830 ; and it seemed unjust 

 to the Fellows elected since that time to apply the funds sup- 

 pKed by them to no other purpose than the discharge of debts, 

 to contracting which they had in no way been parties. Nor 

 could the various Councils avoid feeling that progress was 

 indispensable to the existence of the Corporation, and that to 

 cUsoontinue the improvement and encouragement of Horticultirre 

 would be virtually to abandon the purposes for which alone 

 the Society was incorporated. They therefore endeavoured to 

 combine, as far as possible, the liquidation of the Society's 

 liabilities with a vigorous prosecution of the objects declared in 

 the charter. Hence, in the years which elapsed between 1830 

 and 1855 nearly 11,000/. was expended in works of permanent 

 utUity in the Garden ; and more than 7000/. in the introduction 

 of rare plants and seeds by collectors and correspondents abroad ; 

 notwithstanding which the debts were gradually reduced to 

 5000/. bonded, and 3800/. floating. In the course of this time 

 the high character of the Society was also sustained, not 



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