PEEFACB. 



establishment of the Society some sixty years ago, by a few gentlemen 

 who desired to raise the practice of gardening from its then state of 

 apathetic routine to the dignity of a science, I have traced it from its 

 cradle in a garden not far from that now occupied by the Society at 

 South Kensington, to the world-renowned establishment at Chiswick, and 

 thence back to its present home. I have shown its first slow but steady 

 progress ; the gradual extension of its aims ; the meteor-like brilliancy 

 of its first rise. I have had to record its difficulties and decline, its 

 recovery, and still more triumphant success under the management of 

 Dr. Lindley ; its national usefulness ; its expeditions, explorations, and 

 discoveries ; the more important of the new plants that have been intro- 

 duced by its collectors ; its scientific publications, experiments, exhi- 

 bitions, and a multitude of other labours. Again it languished, and was 

 sick nigh unto death. I have followed it through its financial difficulties ; 

 shown the desperate efforts made, not only by the Council, but by the 

 Fellows, to save it, and their failure one after another: uutU, at its 

 utmost hour of need, when nought but speedy extinction looked it in 

 the face, the Prince Consort took it by the hand, and, as it were with a 

 word, raised it to its feet and restored it to vigour, giving it strength 

 and resources beyond any it had previously possessed; raised, as if by 

 enchantment, the Arcadian Garden at South Kensington ; organised the 

 International Exhibition of 1862, and pointed the way for the Society 

 participating in its advantages. Of all these proceedings I have given 

 the details. I have also had to tell of the unspeakable loss sustained by 



