OPENING OF THE LABORATORY AT WISLEY. 



335 



and Fisheries." To-day's sunshine and warmth would, perhaps, make us 

 linger on the word " Fisheries," so suggestive of the cool sea. However, 

 the word "agriculture " is always taken to include " horticulture." 



The Lord Avebury and Lord Balfour have said almost all about the 

 work of the Society in the past which it is necessary to say to-day. I 

 certainly do think we owe a very great debt to this Society for its invaluable 

 work, the plants it has introduced into the country, and in extending the 

 • cause of horticulture generally. Although the Society has at present a 

 good balance in hand, still in the past its resources have been taxed to 

 the utmost to carry on its work. There are, I hope, people who will be 

 willing to come forward to make donations to the Laboratory, because in 

 building and maintaining it the Society is doing a really National work, 

 and I am sure the Society will oner no objection if the Secretary of the 

 Board of Agriculture will bring pressure to bear on the Privy Purse for 

 financial help in forwarding this work. May I express the hope that 

 Sir Thomas Elliott will take back such a good account of these Gardens 

 and the work which the Society is inaugurating to-day that the hard heart 

 of the Chancellor of the Exchequer will be touched ? And in anticipation 

 of such a benefit let us drink the toast of " The Board of Agriculture." 



Sir Thomas Elliott said : — It is with very special pleasure that I rise 

 to thank you for the hearty manner in which you have drunk this toast. 

 I take the mere fact of the inclusion of this toast in your list as a 

 reminder to the Board of their duty — that we are under obligations to 

 our horticultural clients as well as to our agricultural clients. 



We have during the last few days secured the passing of the 

 " Destruction of Insects and Pests Bill," by which Parliament has given 

 to the Board very considerable powers in this direction. We have already 

 commenced a crusade in two parts of England against the gooseberry 

 pest. We had to make a beginning, and we have done what seemed to 

 lie to our hand. 



I will say no more, but thank you for the way you have drunk this 

 toast, and express the hope that the mutual goodwill and friendship 

 existing between the Society and the Board of Agriculture will ever 

 continue to be as cordial as it is at present. 



4. THE SUBREY COUNTY COUNCIL. 



Proposed by Professor Michael E. Sadler, LL.D. 

 Responded to by Sir William Vincent, Bart., J. P. 



Professor Michael Sadler said : — I gladly rise to propose a toast 

 which expresses our sense of obligation to the Surrey County Council. 

 Its work is distinguished by public spirit and by practical wisdom. 



The connection between the Surrey County Council and these 

 Gardens will, I hope, in the future be a close and a fruitful one. The 

 County Council propose to select year by year a number of suitable 

 boys from elementary schools — boys with promise and aptitude for 

 gardening— who will be received here by the Royal Horticultural Society 

 for a thorough course of training, free at least for one year, and 



