424 Report on the progress of the Horticultural Society, 



servatories would require ; with a view therefore to greater advan- 

 tage in a financial point of view, this plan was so far modified as 

 for some years to apply the whole surplus in paying off part of 

 the bonded debt, and then for a like number of years to apply the 

 whole or the greater part in the construction of conservatories ; 

 little or no actual outlay was therefore made until the commence- 

 ment of the past year. In the mean time, however, various 

 designs submitted to the Council were carefully considered in a 

 special committee appointed for the purpose, and in the summer of 

 1838 the general plan of a range of glass, to consist of a central 

 dome 120 feet in diameter, and of two wings, each 185 feet long, 

 30 feet broad and 26 feet high, was agreed upon. The details of 

 one wing as now constructed according to the plans of Mr. Ainger, 

 the Society's architect, were finally adopted by the Committee, and 

 sanctioned by a full Council in the presence of His Grace the Pre- 

 sident, and this wing was ordered to be immediately executed. 

 Contracts were entered into for the iron work and glazing by 

 Messrs. Baileys, who by the excellence of their materials and the 

 workmanlike manner in which they performed their contract have 

 fully justified the expectations of the committee when concluding 

 the agreement. It was hoped, that this wing would have been 

 completed in the course of last summer, but the unceasing rains 

 so impeded the works that this was found impossible ; it is now 

 however finished, and owing to the liberality of several zealous 

 friends of the Society contains already a large number of valuable 

 specimen plants. The Council have in this respect more especially 

 to offer their thanks to 



His Majesty the King of the Belgians. 



John Reeves, Esq. 



William Wells, Esq. 



Messrs. Loddiges. 



Messrs. Rollisson. 



And Mr. Joseph Knight. 



