REPORT OF THE COUNCIL FOR THE YEAR 1896-97 Hi 



to the fact that the portraits of orchids receiving a First Class 

 Certificate or Award of Merit would in future be painted. 



In celebration of the Diamond Jubilee of Her Gracious 

 Majesty, Queen Victoria, the President called attention to the 

 paragraph in the Report in connection with the Victoria Medal 

 of Horticulture, which it was proposed to have struck. 



In concluding his remarks the President referred to the 

 services of the various Committees to whom the best thanks of 

 the Society were due, and made complimentary references to the 

 officers of the Society. 



Professor Michael Fostee, F.R.S., seconded the adoption 

 of the Report (printed below) which, on being put to the meet- 

 ing, was carried unanimously. 



REPORT OF THE COUNCIL FOR THE YEAR 1896-97. 



The Council are glad to be able to report the conclusion of a full 

 and satisfactory year's work. 



Financially, the balance in hand is not as large as it was last 

 year, but this is more than accounted for by the extraordinary 

 expenditure which the Council felt able to undertake at 

 Chiswick, the whole of which has been defrayed out of income. 

 The conservatory at the entrance to the gardens, which had for 

 so many years required repair, has been entirely removed, and 

 replaced by a building in every respect worthy of the Society ; 

 and the two old greenhouses, Nos. 1 and 2, which had been an 

 eyesore to the gardens by reason of their ruinous condition for 

 almost a generation, have been remodelled and rebuilt. The 

 total of this extraordinary expenditure is over £500. 



Under the head of Ordinary Expenditure at Chiswick, £1,870 

 has been spent on the general work and repairs, and keeping up 

 of the Gardens. Amongst other work, House No. 17 has been 

 practically rebuilt, Nos. 15 and 6 have been very thoroughly 

 repaired ; the young men's bothies have also been put in good 

 order, and made more comfortable. The receipts by sale of sur- 

 plus produce amount to £844, making the net ordinary cost of 

 the Gardens £l,52G. 



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