EXTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS. 



xi 



ferences have taken place at Cliiswick — viz. : on Roses, on 

 July 2nd and 3rd ; on Vegetables, on September 24th, 25th, and 

 26th ; and on Chrysanthemums, on November 5th and 6th ; and 

 the excellent results thus obtained, together with the most valu- 

 able statistics and returns sent in by the kindness of correspon- 

 dents all over the United Kingdom, with a few from foreign 

 horticulturists, will, as recorded in the Society's Journal, form 

 an authoritative standard of reference on the subjects concerned 

 for some years to come. 



Sixteen Fruit and Floral Meetings have been held in the 

 Drill Hall, every one of which has been productive of good results 

 to one or other of the different branches of practical horticulture. 

 The number of awards has been as follows : On the recom- 

 mendation of the Floral Committee, 54 First Class Certificates, 

 84 Awards of Merit, 4 Botanical Certificates, 3 Commendations. 

 On the recommendation of the Fruit and Vegetable Committee, 

 7 First Class Certificates, 3 Awards of Merit. On the recom- 

 mendation of the Orchid Committee, 27 First Class Certificates, 

 7 Awards of Merit, and 12 Botanical Certificates. 



The Society's great Show, held (by the renewed kindness of 

 the Treasurer and Benchers) in the Inner Temple Gardens, was 

 even more magnificent than in the preceding year, the collection 

 of Orchids, in particular, having probably surpassed any collec- 

 tion ever before gathered into one place. The best thanks of 

 the Society are due to all those (and especially to the amateurs) 

 who so generously lent their plants for exhibition. 



Nor has the Scientific Committee been idle, and the notes of 

 their meetings, as given in the Society's Journal, will be found 

 full of interesting and valuable information to all horticulturists. 



Meantime, the Society's general work of scientific experiment 

 and investigation, and of the practical trial of various plants, 

 has been going on steadily at Chiswick, under the superintend- 

 ence of Mr. Barron. Trial has been made of 104 varieties of 

 Potatoes ; 50 vars. of Broccoli ; 108 vars. of Vegetable Marrows, 

 Pumpkins, and Gourds ; 30 vars. of Onions ; 30 vars. of 

 Brussels Sprouts ; and 41 vars. of Peas. Amongst Flowers, 

 trial has been made of 270 varieties of Garden Annuals, 66 vars. 

 of China Asters, 20 vars. of Stocks, 190 vars. of Dahlias, besides 

 Zonal and other Pelargoniums ; Lemoine's New Hybrid Gladioli, 

 Pentstemons, Heliotropes, Iris, &c. Ivies, of which the Society 



