Xvi PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



at home or abroad, have so kindly and liberally presented books 

 to the Library or plants or seeds to the Gardens. Special 

 thanks are due to those gentlemen who have so kindly contri- 

 buted Carnations, in view of the Conference in July. A list of 

 the donors has been prepared, and will appear in the next number 

 of the Journal. 



The Council recognise as fully as anyone can the great 

 desirability of securing more suitable premises than the present 

 Drill Hall affords, and they are now anxiously engaged in con- 

 sidering a scheme for erecting a suitable building on the Thames 

 Embankment, which, if ever accomplished, would, they hope, 

 not only afford ample facilities for our own Society, but also, in 

 time, form a centre for all kindred Horticultural Associations. 

 But they must remind Fellows that the adoption of this scheme 

 is purely a matter of funds, and would entail a very large outlay, 

 and until they can see their way to provide this, they fear that 

 no better place than the Drill Hall can, under the circumstances, 

 be readily found. 



The Council have the sad duty of recording the death of forty 

 of the Fellows of the Society during the past year. Amongst 

 them they regret to find the names, Reichenbach, Boscawen, and 

 Berkeley. 



Besides the losses from death, the Council deeply grieve to 

 have to record the loss of thirty-nine Fellows by resignation. The 

 Society has been struggling bravely for the last two years in the 

 face of many adverse circumstances, and with the burden, finan- 

 cially speaking, of a large number of Life Fellows — from whom 

 it derives no income whatever — bequeathed to it by a former 

 generation ; and the Council had hoped that, with the evidence 

 which even this Report gives of renewed life and vigour and use- 

 fulness, the Society would have retained the goodwill and support, 

 and for a time the forbearance, of all who had joined it. They 

 have, however, the pleasure of adding that a greater number have 

 joined the Society than have left it. Still, as they said in another 

 paragraph, they wish to impress very strongly the fact that the 

 Society needs a large augmentation before it will be financially 

 possible to embrace the many opportunities of usefulness opening 

 before it. The following tabular statement will show the relations 

 of increase and decrease during the year, both in the number of 

 Fellows and the income arising therefrom : — 



