NOTICES TO FELLOWS. 



cclxvii 



The Council are anxious to make the Gardens (so far as the funds at 

 their command will allow) a School of Practical and Scientific Horticul- 

 ture, and of increased value and interest to the Fellows. Mr. Wilson's 

 wild garden will be carefully preserved and continued, whilst other parts 

 of the site will be devoted to the cultivation of all such trees, shrubs, 

 fruits, vegetables, stove, greenhouse and hardy plants and flowers as are 

 found to be most generally useful or ornamental ; to the trial of new 

 varieties side by side with old established ones ; to the hybridisation of 

 Plants and the raising of New Varieties ; to experiments in the culture 

 and treatment of those plants which possess a floral or decorative as 

 distinguished from a merely botanical value and interest. To these may 

 be added the trial of such Horticultural appliances and materials as may 

 from time to time be submitted ; and if funds be forthcoming it is hoped 

 to add a practical Scientific department, with Laboratory, &c. ; this, how- 

 ever, will largely depend on the liberality of Fellows interested in scien- 

 tific research. 



The cultivation, trial, &c, of Fruits has always been considered as of 

 the utmost importance, and will form one of the most valuable features 

 of the Gardens. It is intended to establish and maintain a collection 

 of all the best varieties of fruits, and extend it from time to time by the 

 trial of such novelties as the raisers may be good enough to bestow on 

 the Society. 



A collection of standard and typical varieties of different Vegetables 

 will also be grown for comparison with new varieties, both to assist the 

 Committee in recommending their awards and for the general informa- 

 tion of the Fellows. Besides this general collection, specially exhaustive 

 trials of certain classes of fruits, flowers, and vegetables will be made 

 every few years in rotation, and descriptive reports given in the Society's 

 Journal. 



The Floral department will include trees, shrubs, plants, and flowers 

 of a distinctly decorative garden character, whether for cultivation under 

 glass or out of doors. A few classes only can be illustrated each year. 



The Officials of the Society will give any information and render every 

 assistance in their power to all Fellows. Anyone wishing to study any 

 particular branch of gardening operations, or to make any special observa- 

 tions on different subjects, should make direct application to the Secretary, 

 117 Victoria Street, Westminster, or after July, Vincent Square, S.W. 



Students. — Students will be admitted to the Gardens at Wisley on 

 the same terms as at Chiswick in recent years : namely, that each student 

 on being accepted shall pay a fee of £5 5s. and undertake to remain for two 

 years at least at the Gardens. During this pericd every student will be care- 

 fully trained in practical horticulture both in the open and under glass, 

 including the cultivation of flowers, fruits, and vegetables ; some of them 

 will also be permitted to attend the Society's lectures and shows in the 

 new Hall and elsewhere. A small horticultural library is attached to the 

 Gardens for their use. Every opportunity is given to students who use 

 application, to master the whole of the general subject of practical horti- 

 culture, and as soon as a scientific department can be established, no doubt 

 elementary science as it affects horticulture will be added to the curriculum. 



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