X PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



shown in securing the institution by the University of a Degree in Horticulture. 

 The Syllabus of Courses of Studies and Examinations will be found in the 

 University Calendar for 1917. 



13. Frost Report. — The unusually severe and prolonged winter of 1916-17, 

 and its effect upon plant life in the British Isles is being made the subject of 

 an investigation, which Mr. E. A. Bowles, M.A., V.M.H., a member of the Council, 

 has most kindly undertaken. 



14. Organization of Work. — During recent years the work of the Society 

 has so greatly increased that the Council at last found it impossible to give to 

 all the matters brought before it, at its meetings, the detailed care they felt 

 they should receive. In the spring of the year a General Purposes Committee 

 was set up to deal with matters referred to it by the Council, and with Finance. 

 Amongst other branches of the Society's work it has also had in hand the over- 

 sight of the Society's publications. The Committee has had under its careful 

 consideration matters affecting the Journal, amongst them the question of 

 economizing paper and a reduction in the cost of postage. As a result, smaller 

 type will be used for certain parts of it. In this way it is hoped to effect a con- 

 siderable saving and so help to offset part of the increased cost of publication 

 due to the rise in the price of paper and printing. It will also effect an economy 

 in the amount of paper used. The Publication Department of the Society being 

 an increasingly important one, a separate Publications' Committee was 

 established later. 



The Council are. glad to discover, in response to their recent post-card 

 asking Fellows who did not wish to receive the Journal to notify them of the 

 fact, that the great majority of the Fellows still desire to receive it, thus con- 

 firming the Council's previous opinion that the Journal is accounted a really 

 useful publication. 



15. Revision of Pritzel's Index. — The revision of Pritzel's Index has not 

 escaped attention, and, as a first step, two Committees have been set up with 

 a view of finding (a) the amount of information which those for whose benefit 

 the revision will be mainly undertaker, would wish the new Pritzel to include ; 

 and (b) the amount of information which those familiar with the preparation 

 of works of this class consider that it may be possible to incorporate. By the 

 aid of these Committees it is hoped to get matters in hand so as to be able to 

 republish the work as soon after the War as possible. 



16. War Relief Fund. — The work of the Society's War Relief Fund has 

 made considerable progress during the year, but it has undergone a certain 

 transition. As already stated above, the work falling on the Council ard on 

 the Office Staff had become more than they could accomplish. Accordingly 

 an outlet was sought for distributing the work attendant upon the Fund by 

 forming a new Committee and setting up a separate department for giving 

 undivided attention to it. This was effected by appointing four Members of 

 the Council to act jointly with four Members of the Ladies' Committee. The 

 offices of the Fund are at present at No. 17 Victoria Street, Westminster. 



This Joint Administrative Committee has approached a similar Committee 

 of the Royal Agricultural Society and they have agreed on a reciprocal arrange- 

 ment for sending out fruit trees, seeds, &c. , whereby overlapping may be avoided 

 and a considerable saving in organization effected. 



17. Obituary. — It is with deep regret that the Council have to record the 

 death of many Fellows, particularly the following : — George Abbey, Elijah 

 Ashworth, Lord Auckland, L. H. de B. Crawshay, C. T. Druery, V.M.H., Lieut. 

 H. L. Foster, Alfred Hemsley, W. Marshall, V.M.H., Geo. Massee, V.M.H., Earl 

 of Mount Edgcumbe, O. G. Orpen, Marchioness of Ripon, Chas. Ross, V.M.H., 

 Leopold dc Rothschild, Geo. Schneider, E. D. Till, William Thompson, Ph. de 

 Vilmorin, and Walter Ware. 



18. New V.M.H.— Owing to the death of five holders of the Victoria Medal 

 of Honour, the Council have appointed the following gentlemen to this distinction, 

 viz. :— Mr. W. Jackson Bean, Mr. F. J. Chittenden, F.L.S., Sir Herbert Maxwell, 

 Bart .F.R.S ,D.C.L.,LL.D.,Dr. A. B. Rendle, F.R.S., F.L.S., and Sir Albert K. 

 Rolht, D.C.I. „ LL.D., Litt.D 



