XXXIV PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



.Report of the Council to the Annual General Meeting 

 of 10th February, 1880. 



The Council have to report to the Fellows a continuance of 

 interest in the operations of the Society during the past year. 



Notwithstanding the unfavourable weather which prevailed 

 throughout the whole of last year, and which marred the success 

 of the exhibitions and meetings generally, the receipts on account 

 of these have not fallen greatly short of those of the previous year. 



The fortnightly meetings have been liberally supported— groups 

 of an interesting nature, and valuable collections of fruit, vege- 

 tables, and plants have contributed to sustain their high character ; 

 and the Council take this opportunity of acknowledging the 

 valuable services rendered by the Scientific, Fruit, and Floral 

 Committees, whose proceedings have been fully recorded in the 

 Journal of the Society. 



The Great Show of 27th May was equal to any former Exhibi- 

 tion as regards merit and extent, and was honoured by the pre- 

 sence of H.R.H. the Princess of Wales, and T.R.H. the Duke and 

 Duchess of Edinburgh, the Crown Princes of Denmark and 

 Sweden, the Count and Countess of Flanders, and the Duke of 

 Teck. 



The Popular Show upon "Whit-Monday was an improvement 

 upon that of the previous year, the Covent Garden growers filling 

 the grand marquee with a brilliant display of the flowering plants 

 which are specially grown for the supply of the London markets, 

 and in spite of the heavy rain, the number of visitors on this 

 occasion was 8071. 



The Council are desirous of fostering a love of horticulture 

 amongst the humbler classes; and deeming this one of the objects 

 to be kept in view by the Society, they resolved to hold a 

 show upon Whit-Monday, the 17th May next, and to postpone the 

 competition for the cottagers' and artisans' prizes to the Bank 

 Holiday, 2nd August. 



In compliance with a desire expressed by the Fellows, the 

 Council held a conversazione on the evening of Wednesday, 28th 



