REPORT OF THE COUNCIL. 



in 



The following names of President, Vice-Presidents, members of 

 Council and officers having been duly proposed and seconded, and the 

 list circulated in accordance with Bye-law 74, and no alternative names 

 having been proposed, were declared by the Chairman to be duly 

 elected, viz. : 



As new Members of Council. — The Hon. John Boscawen, Mr. E. A. 

 Bowles, M.A., F.L.S., F.E.S., Mr. J. Gurney Fowler, Mr. W. Marshall, 

 V.M.H.. 



As Vice-Presidents. — The Right Hon. Joseph Chamberlain, M.P., 

 the Right Hon. the Earl of Ducie, the Right Hon. Lord Rothschild, 

 Leopold de Rothschild, Esq., Sir John T. Dillwyn-Llewelyn, Bart., V.M.I I., 

 and Baron Sir Henry Schroder, Bart., V.M.H. 



As Officers.— H\v Trevor Lawrence, Bart., K.C.V.O., V.M.H. (President), 

 J. Gurney Fowler, Esq. (Treasurer), Rev. W. Wilks, M.A. (Secretary), 

 A. C. Harper, Esq. (Auditor). 



Mr. Pearson moved a vote of thanks to the Chairman, which was 

 seconded and carried unanimously. 



REPORT OF THE COUNCIL 



FOR THE YEAR 1907. 



1. The One Hundred and Fourth Year.— Quiet, steady progress 

 has again marked the past year. 



2. Research Station and Laboratory at Wisley.— The most 

 important feature of the year's work, and one which, it is hoped, will 

 be productive of far-reaching results, is the completion of the Laboratory 

 and Scientific Research Station at Wisley. The Opening Ceremony was 

 kindly performed by the Right Hon. Lord Avebury, P.C., F.R.S., on 

 July 19, when several Representatives of Government Departments, 

 prominent men of Science and Horticulture, and members of the Surrey 

 County Council were present. The occasion was one of great gratifica- 

 tion, for it brought the realisation of a long-cherished but long-deferred 

 desire for a Scientific Station under the direct control of the Society for 

 research into the problems affecting plant life and plant disease at present 

 confronting and baffling the gardener. Several very interesting speeches 

 were delivered on the occasion. These are reported in the Journal 

 (vol. xxxiii. p. 329). 



Among the first subjects to be investigated are soil-sterilisation 

 by steam as a means of destroying those pests of plants which live 

 in the soil ; the influence of sterilisation on the plants subsequently 

 cultivated in the soil ; the bacteria of the soil ; etherisation of plants ; 

 and certain definite plant diseases. Each of these subjects will entail 

 a large amount of laboratory work, as well as of experiment in the 

 Garden. 



Mr. Frederick J. Chittenden, F.L.S., from the Chelmsford Laboratories 

 of the Essex County Council, and for some years Secretary of our Society's 

 Scientific Committee, has been appointed Director, having under his care 

 both the Research work and the Students' Laboratory, the latter at present 



a 2 



