11 PREFACE. 



An entirely novel feature in this Volume has been created 

 by the introduction of Reports from the Society's Garden, 

 upon various subjects which have been investigated in it. 

 These will continue regularly to appear, and will supply the 

 public with the most accurate means of judging of the degree 

 in which the objects of Horticulture are likely to be illus- 

 trated by the Establishment of the Garden. It may be 

 confidently stated that these will continue to increase in 

 interest with each succeeding year ; and that the results of 

 observations made in the Garden, will fully keep pace with 

 its gradual progress. 



The number of Fellows of the Society has advanced from 

 1915, at the date of the last Preface, to 2044 ; and the total 

 number of the Society, including Honorary, Foreign, and 

 Corresponding Members, to 2394, the last return having 

 been 2197. In this period a farther accession of European 

 Princes to the list of the Society has taken place ; but the 

 Society has to lament the recent loss of the most distinguished 

 of its Honorary Members— His late Royal Highness the 

 Duke of York. The number of the Society has however be- 

 come so large, that an annual loss of Members from natural 

 causes must now be expected to occur in such a degree as to 

 render it improbable that its absolute increase will continue 

 to be such as it was between the years 1816 and 1824. 



It was observed upon a former occasion, that the success 

 of the Horticultural Society must necessarily exercise a most 

 extensive and beneficial influence upon Gardening pursuits 



