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Repm t on the Special Exhibitions of the Horticultural Society of 

 London. By G. Bentham, Esq. F. L. S. Secretary. 



From an early period after the establishment of this Society, it 

 had been one of the objects of its Founders that the Fellows should, 

 besides their ordinary meetings for the exhibitions of Horticul- 

 tural produce, have the opportunity, once at least in each year, of 

 exhibiting to a larger number of their friends, the results of the 

 efforts of practical Horticulturists. With this view the Anniversary 

 Dinner of the Society was fixed at a time of year best calculated 

 to show the finest fruits at the dessert. These dinners, how- 

 ever, were abandoned as the numbers of the Society increased, 

 and fetes or public breakfasts at the Society's Garden were 

 substituted, on which occasion Medals were awarded for the best 

 fruits exhibited. 



These fetes were continued for three successive years, and, after 

 the interruption of one year, (occasioned by the changes in the 

 management of the Society), were again tried for the fourth time in 

 1831. But, although at first they seemed to answer the purposes 

 intended, yet it soon became evident that the scale upon which 

 they were conducted was attended with many objections and much 

 risk to the Society, whilst they tended less and less to advance the 

 interests of the science, or to promote harmony and good feeling 

 amongst the Fellows. They were, consequently, abandoned, and 

 in the following year, 1832, it was resolved that, in the course of 

 the Spring and Summer, three Special Exhibitions should be held 

 at the Meeting Room, in Regent Street. 



These exhibitions were, accordingly, announced for the 3rd of 

 April for Camellias ; for the 5th of June for Azaleas and Rho- 



