CXXX PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



After a trial had been made of an annual dinner, which proved 

 anything but a success, it was decided to establish annual fetes. These, 

 like the dinners, though not absolutely failures involving pecuniary loss, 

 were but a qualified success. The last fete, held in 1831, was succeeded 

 by the first of a long series of Horticultural Exhibitions. Though subject 

 to vicissitudes, these Exhibitions have proved in the long run a main 

 source of success and prosperity to the Society. Nor has this been their 

 only merit. For beyond question nothing has done more to advance the 

 interests of the Society and to achieve for it a wide-spread popularity 

 than the existing fortnightly and other shows, which have gradually 

 become the centre of the Horticultural interests of the Empire, both 

 amateur and professional. 



The Chiswick Fetes, established in 1833, did much at first to promote 

 Horticulture in all its branches, and to secure for the Society a financial 

 prosperity which did not, unfortunately, last. As long ago as 1844-5 they 

 produced a profit of 3,000/. But the stars in their courses fought against 

 the Society and its Exhibitions. These, which had largely depended 

 upon the favour of the fashionable world — a notoriously fickle body — for 

 their success, had to be given up after a run of about twenty years. On 

 one notorious occasion, as is recorded in Andrew Murray's ' Book of the 

 R.H.S.,' the Chiswick Fete was overtaken by a veritable deluge. On this 

 occasion the Military lent their long cloaks, to enable fashion to get to its 

 carriages, at 2s. Qd. a trip, and bushels of ladies' shoes and stockings 

 reduced to pulp were picked up ! 



Any mention of Chiswick days would be imperfect were prominence 

 not given to the invaluable services of the many eminent collectors sent 

 abroad by the Society in its earlier years. The names of Reeves, Don, 

 Douglas, McRae, Potts, Parkes, Fortune, Hartweg, and others are 

 retained in the grateful recollection of all gardeners. One of the greatest 

 misfortunes brought upon the Society by financial difficulties was the 

 sale of its splendid library and drawings, and so low had its fortunes sunk 

 that in 1887 there were but 733 paying Fellows. 



The connection of Lindley with the Society, which began as Assistant 

 Secretary in 1822, lasted forty years, his resignation taking place in 1862. 

 Nothing has conferred greater honour on the Society than this long 

 continuance of Dr. Lindley's work on its behalf. His name is honoured 

 wherever throughout the world science is valued. 



The President concluded by saying that the Society's connection with 

 Chiswick could not be severed without a pang, and that they should recognise 

 and acknowledge that the various Dukes of Devonshire had behaved to the 

 Society as might have been expected of men of their character and 

 position. Sir Thomas Hanbury's gift had not only provided the Society 

 wit) i a garden, but it had healed the somewhat pronounced differences of 

 opinion that existed in regard to which scheme should come first, that of 

 the erection of a Hall or the formation of the Garden. 



Tin President then proposed the health of the various Standing Com- 

 mittees of the Society, viz. : the Scientific, the Fruit and Vegetable, the 

 Floral, the Orchid, and the Narcissus and Tulip, expressing the great debt 

 of gratitude which the Society owed to all who so kindly served upon them, 

 often at great personal inconvenience and no little expense. 



