12 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 



it is a great disappointment to those to whom the work had been a 

 labour of love. Though the loss and disappointment has been con- 

 siderable, the damage has now been largely repaired, the cemeteries 

 have been put into proper condition, new nurseries have been made, 

 and further supplies of plants have been acquired for planting the 

 cemeteries. 



I have already mentioned that we are indebted to the British 

 Red Cross Society and Order of St. John of Jerusalem for the funds 

 which have made it possible to carry out the work already 

 accomplished, and to those organizations we shall continue to look 

 for the financial assistance necessary for carrying out all our temporary 

 horticultural work in cemeteries in the Mobile Army areas. For 

 the permanent planting and upkeep, however, the recently established 

 Royal Commission will make itself responsible. 



In addition to our grants from these sources we have also to 

 acknowledge the receipt of many kind presents of bulbs, plants, and 

 seeds which have been made by private individuals and by firms for 

 general purposes in our cemeteries, and to all such donors we are 

 very greatly indebted. Owing to innumerable difficulties of transport 

 &c. it is almost impossible to permit gifts of plants for individual 

 graves to be made. 



Our one endeavour is to make these sacred plots — those fields in 

 Flanders that are " for ever England " — worthy memorials to those 

 who have given their lives in the cause of liberty and for the safety of 

 our Empire. No wiser means of ensuring the attainment of this 

 ideal could have been devised than Lhe establishment and organiza- 

 tion by H.M. the King of the Imperial War Graves Commission on 

 the application of H.R.H. the Prince of Wales. His Majesty's 

 nomination of His Royal Highness as first President of the Commission 

 is a further good augury that the task entrusted to the Commission 

 will be carried out in a manner worthy of the great cause. 



