REPORT OF THE COUNCIL FOR THE YEAR 191 8. 



xiii 



fruit-growers thus assisted were generally satisfied with the action of the Society 

 and the response of the Department. 



Representations have also been made to the Prime Minister on the subject 

 of Afforestation; to the Minister of National Service on Man-power and its 

 Application to Gardeners ; to the Controller of Mines on the Provision of Fuel 

 for Horticultural Purposes, which resulted in special consideration being given 

 in the case of valuable stocks of plants ; to the Rt. Hon. R. E. Prothero con- 

 cerning Seed Potatos ; and to the Commission on the proposed Luxury Tax 

 on the Exemption of Scientific and Educational Books from Taxation. 



A Deputation from the Society was sent to the 50th Anniversary Exhibition 

 of the Southampton Royal Horticultural Society on October 15. It consisted 

 of Sir Daniel Morris, K.C.M.G., V.M.H., Mr. Arthur W. Sutton, V.M.H., Mr. 

 James Hudson, V.M.H., and the Rev. W. Wilks, M.A., V.M.H. The Deputa- 

 tion was given a very cordial welcome, and awarded the Society's Medals at 

 what was undoubtedly a most excellent exhibition, and one in every way worthy 

 of that Society. Tlie President and Council particularly wish to acknowledge 

 the courtesy and hospitality afforded by Professor G. S. Lyttel and Mr. C. S. 

 Fuidge to the Members of the Deputation. 



16. R.H.S. Hall. — Fellows can now look forward to reoccupying their 

 own Hall at Vincent Square within (it is hoped) a short space of time, as the 

 advent of Peace will liberate it from the military purpose to which it has been 

 devoted during the last two years. How long it will actually be before the 

 Fortnightly Meetings can again be held in the Hall it is, of course, impossible 

 to say at the present moment ; but the Council have little doubt but that the 

 Australian Imperial Force will wish to redeem the promise given on their behalf 

 by General Anderson when he first opened negotiations for its acquisition, 

 namely : that it should be returned to the Society at the earliest possible moment. 



17. Pritzel Revision. — Perhaps the most important permanent technical 

 work done by the Society during the year is that which concerns the revision 

 of " Pritzel." Fellows will be glad to learn that the work is now actually in 

 hand. In last year's Report it was mentioned that two Committees had been 

 set up for defining the extent of the work to be taken in hand, and this they 

 have done, outlining the scope of the work and appointing the staff for seeing 

 it through its first stages. Typists are now daily at work preparing the manu- 

 script for the publishers. With the kind consent of Sir David Prain, C.M.G., 

 F.R.S., V.M.H., Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, they are working 

 at Kew, under the personal supervision of Captain Arthur W. Hill, Assistant- 

 Director, and a Member of the Society's Council. It is estimated that the 

 new work will include about 250,000 references. A special communication on 

 this subject is being issued to the Fellows with this Report, to which they are 

 referred for further information concerning the purpose of this monumental 

 work which the Society has undertaken, and which, as a scientific and practical 

 record, will ever remain as a lasting evidence of the devotion of the Society to 

 both the practice and the science of gardening. Fellows are invited to give 

 generous financial assistance, as the work will cost at least £3,500 to produce. 

 All the Botanic Stations, Experimental Stations, and the most important 

 Libraries throughout the world are also being asked to assist. Subscribers 

 °f £ 1 5 1 5S- will receive a free copy; subscribers of fifty guineas will receive 

 a copy bound in half-calf ; subscribers of £100 will receive a copy bound in calf 

 or in vellum, as they may prefer. It is proposed to publish the names of all 

 subscribers of £1 is. and upwards in the introduction of the new work, so 

 that they may be known to those who come after as those to whom the 

 new Piitzel is due. 



18. Trafalgar Square F6te. — Fellows will be interested to know that the 

 Society's Exhibition staff was lent to the British Ambulance Committee for 

 organising and assisting at its Floral FSte held in Trafalgar Square in June. 

 In a letter of appreciation from the Rt. Hon. Lord Beresford, G.C.B., chair- 

 man, and Mr. Brad by Peyman, the vice-chairman, acknowledging the assis- 

 tance rendered by the Society, it is said that nearly £9,000 was collected. 

 The letter goes on to say : " We fully realize that the same measure of success 

 would not have resulted had it not been for your Council's co-operation and 

 assistance." Special thanks are due to Mr. Bisset and Mr. Jordan in this respect. 



19. War Relief Fund. — The Special Committee appointed to carry out 

 this branch of the Society's work, as announced in last year's report lias made 



