REPORT TO THE COUNCIL. 



xlix 



2. The experiment which has been made with reference to the 

 employment of Students for the performance of a portion of the 

 work of the garden has, so far, fairly answered the expectations 

 of its promoters ; and the Directors, but for the outlay involved, 

 would willingly extend it so as to offer its advantages to a larger 

 number of young men anxious to use the best means of advancing 

 themselves in their profession ; they, however, having past ex- 

 perience in view, think it would be more advantageous to provide 

 for the entry of somewhat younger men than the present re- 

 gulations will admit. They would also express a hope that the 

 Society's finances may very soon be able to bear the additional ex- 

 pense of providing Lectures and Demonstrations in aid of the 

 practical studies of these young men, such as were originally con- 

 templated. 



3. The Directors trust that the Society may rely on a conti- 

 nuance of the aid which has been so generously and efficiently 

 afforded to the Chiswick collection by those gentlemen who have 

 obligingly contributed novelties for the various trial collections, 

 since they believe that these experimental trials have more ef- 

 fectually and widely diffused a correct knowledge of the recent 

 acquisitions for the Flower-, Fruit-, and Yegetable-gardens than 

 could have been brought about by any other ready means. They 

 are highly gratified to be able to state that these trial collections, 

 and the standard sorts grown for comparison with them, are 

 sought for with much interest by numerous visitors at the proper 

 season. 



4. As regards the Floral Department, some new houses have 

 been completed, and others efficiently repaired, so that the Su- 

 perintendent has now better accommodation than formerly for 

 growing flowering plants, the chief demand for which is to aid in 

 the decoration of the conservatory at Kensington throughout 

 the year. With this latter object in view, various additions have 

 been made to the collections of stove and greenhouse plants. 



5. During the past year, 5371 plants have been grown for dis- 

 tribution to the Fellows by ballot, and 125,512 packets of vege- 

 table and flower seeds have also been made up and distributed, 

 besides 1714 plants and 12,512 packets of seeds which have been 

 sent out to the various Societies in union. 



6. The provision of materials for the decoration of the garden 

 at South Kensington has been greatly extended, and has cor- 

 respondingly increased the expenditure at this establishment, 



