Viii PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Acting in conjunction with the Lindley Trustees, the Council 

 have devoted considerable attention to the Library. All serial 

 publications have been kept up to date, a large number of valu- 

 able volumes have been bound, and the following new books, 

 amongst others, added to the Library, viz. : " The Student's 

 Handbook of British Mosses," " Les Vignes Americaines," 

 " Useful Plants of Japan," "Orchids of South Africa," Scott's 

 " Flowerless Plants," &c, &c. 



A sum of £129 has been received for the Catalogue Fund, 

 which was started in 1894, and the proof sheets of the Catalogue 

 are now in the hands of the printer. 



The hearty thanks of the Society are due to all the Members 

 of the Standing Committees — viz., the Scientific, the Fruit and 

 Vegetable, the Floral, the Orchid, and the Narcissus Committees, 

 for the kind and patient attention which they have severally 

 given to their departments. 



The best thanks of the Society are also due to all those who, 

 either at home or abroad, have so kindly presented books to the 

 Library or plants or seeds to the Gardens. A list of the donors 

 has been prepared, and will be found in the Society's Journal, 

 Vol. xx., Part 3, 1897, now almost ready for issue. Where so 

 many have been generous it almost appears invidious to mention 

 any by name, yet the Council think it only their duty on behalf 

 of the Fellows to publicly thank the principal donors, amongst 

 whom have been Messrs. George Bunyard & Co., of Maidstone ; 

 Mr. John Fraser, of Woodford ; Messrs. Lee & Son, of Hammer- 

 smith ; Messrs. Paul & Son, of Cheshunt ; Messrs. J. R. Pear- 

 son and Sons, of Chilwell ; Messrs. T. Rivers & Son, of Saw- 

 bridgeworth ; and Messrs. Veitch and Sons, of Chelsea. 



The Council wish to express, in their own name and in that 

 of the Fellows of the Society, their great indebtedness to all 

 who have so kindly contributed, either by the exhibition of 

 plants, fruits, flowers, or vegetables, or by the reading of papers, 

 to the success of the fortnightly Meetings in the Drill Hall. 

 They are glad to find by the increased and increasing number of 

 visitors that the Society's fortnightly Meetings are at last be- 

 coming appreciated by the Fellows and Public in general. In 

 their judgment these shows, which take place at short intervals 

 throughout the year, furnish horticultural displays and teach 



