446 Report on the progress of the Horticultural Society, 



the practice to award medals for specimens of horticultural pro- 

 ductions, provided the latter possess sufficient merit to deserve 

 such a distinction; no subjects being excluded, except those 

 which may have gained medals at some of the garden exhibitions 

 within a short time previously. 



It is to be observed that, except on special occasions, the object of 

 the Council is not to excite at these meetings a spirit of rivalry among 

 the exhibitors, by giving medals to the best only of those whose 

 specimens may be placed before the Society, but on the contrary to 

 reward merit wherever it is sufficient to justify such a measure. 



The medals which the Society has the power of granting are, 

 the Banksian, the Knightian, and the Large medal, they are given 

 in silver, at the discretion of the judges, very much according to 

 the following rules : — 



The large medal, for remarkably handsome ornamental plants 

 of recent introduction, which have never been exhibited previously. 



The Knightian, for specimens of eatable fruits, and of orna- 

 mental stove or greenhouse plants, and 



The Banksian, for specimens of ornamental hardy plants, and 

 for culinary vegetables. 



All persons, whether Fellows of the Society or not, may exhibit 

 for these medals ; but no person can gain more than one medal of 

 the same description at any one meeting. 



Exhibitors who may, in the course of time, acquire a right to 

 many medals of the same description, are allowed the option of 

 either receiving their medals immediately after they have been 

 awarded, or of waiting until there is a sufficient number due to 

 admit of their exchanging their silver medals for gold ones, or the 

 latter for objects of a higher value, according to the scale adopted 

 for the exhibitions at the garden. 



All objects intended for examination by the judges must be 

 delivered two hours before the time of meeting, that is to say, by 

 one o'clock in summer, and by twelve o'clock in winter. Ob- 



