REPORT OF THE COUNCIL. 



V 



Esq., F. Wellesley, Esq., J.P., J. S. Moss, Esq., C. A. White, Esq., 

 J. Sparkes, Esq., Messrs. J. Veitch, Messrs. Charlesworth, Messrs. J. W. 

 Moore, and Messrs. George Bunyard. It is hoped that these will form the 

 nucleus of a far larger collection in a few years to come. 



The number of visitors to the Gardens admitted by Fellows' Tickets 

 during the year 1907 amounted to 8,818, as compared with 8,117 in 1906. 

 This is exclusive of Horticultural parties, which were admitted by special 

 arrangement, and would increase the total to over 10,000. The number 

 would, no doubt, have been even larger but for the very unsettled weather 

 of the summer of 1907. 



The work in connection with the office of Superintendent has so greatly 

 increased that it has been found necessary to appoint an Assistant Super- 

 intendent, and Mr. Arthur C. Smith has been selected for the post. 



5. Wisley Land Tax. — The Council were advised to redeem the 

 Land Tax on the Wisley Gardens in anticipation of a greatly increased 

 assessment of the property. This therefore was done at a cost of £42 5s. 



6. The Union of Horticultural Mutual Improvement 

 Societies. — The Union of Mutual Improvement Societies is another 

 development of the past year. The Council hope, by thus drawing the 

 many isolated, but exceedingly useful, Horticultural Mutual Improve- 

 ment Societies into federation with our Society, and with each other, 

 to strengthen and encourage them, and generally to promote their 

 welfare. It is intended under this scheme to gather from existing 

 Societies the most suitable rules and regulations and general consti- 

 tution for the information of newly starting Societies, to keep a List 

 of Lecturers willing to assist them, and to furnish them with printed 

 lectures, when a lecturer cannot be secured, or unavoidably fails to fulfil 

 his engagement. All Affiliated Societies are included in the Union. 



7. The Report of the Genetics Conference.— The Report of the 

 International Conference on Genetics, held in the summer of 1906 and 

 edited by our Secretary, was published in the spring, and presented to 

 all who were present at or took any part in the Conference, and to all 

 Fellows who had made application for it. The Council have received 

 many congratulations upon the excellence of this Report, which forms 

 the most complete collection of information on this interesting subject 

 yet published. 



8. Obituaries. — The death-roll among prominent Fellows of the 

 Society is, unhappily, unusually heavy. First to be mentioned must be 

 Sir Thomas Hanbury, K.C.V.O., the generous donor of the Wisley Garden. 

 Then follow Sir Frederick Wigan, Bart., who for several years was a 

 Vice-President of the Society, and one of our most prominent growers 

 of Orchids ; and Dr. Masters, F.R.S., Vice-Chairmain of the Scientific 

 Committee for many years, and always a prominent figure at all the 

 Society's Meetings and Conferences. The Society has lost another 

 constant friend in Sir Michael Foster, F.R.S., whose Horticultural work, 

 especially amongst Irises, is well known to all. Mention must also be 

 made of the Right Hon. Lord Battersea, Sir Alexander Arbuthnot, 

 K.C.S.I., CLE., Major Bythway, Mr. Frederick Q. Lane, Mr. R. I. 



