IV PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



the elements. The best thanks of the Society are due to all who 

 so kindly brought their plants for exhibition or otherwise con- 

 tributed to the success of this Show. 



The Society's general work of scientific experiment and in- 

 vestigation, and of the practical trials of various plants, has been 

 going on steadily at Chiswick, under the superintendence of 

 Mr. Barron. Trial has been made of 45 varieties of Tomatos, 

 12 of Turnips, 79 of Runner Beans, 66 of Beet, 79 of Vegetable 

 Marrows, edible Gourds and Pumpkins, and 80 of Savoys and 

 Cabbages. Eighty-nine new varieties of Potatos, and 104 new 

 Peas have been tested. In the Floral Department 200 varieties 

 of Carnations and Picotees, and 50 of Pinks, 200 Dahlias, 80 

 Violas, 44 of Sweet Peas, 26 Bedding Begonias, 324 Phloxes, 

 500 Peonies, and 330 Asters (Michaelmas Daisies) have been 

 tried. The Phloxes, Pagonies, and Asters have each had the 

 special attention of a Committee of experts both in regard to 

 their proper nomenclature and their value as hardy border 

 flowers. The reports of these Committees will, it is hoped, be 

 ready for publication during the present year. 



Experiments have also been made with a Fruit Evaporator, 

 kindly presented to the Gardens by Messrs. Mayfarth, and most 

 satisfactory and encouraging results have been obtained in the 

 drying both of Apples and Plums. 



The Journal of the Society has been continued so as to 

 enable Fellows at a distance to enter more fully into and reap 

 the benefits of the study and work of those more actively engaged 

 at headquarters. The first part of Vol. XV. was published early 

 in the year, and the second and third parts (now ready for issue) 

 were delayed owing to the pressure of work caused by the prepa- 

 ration of the Conifer Volume. 



The Conifer Conference Report, forming Vol. XIV. of the 

 Journal, is a work on the publication of which the Society may 

 well be congratulated, and the thanks of all the Fellows are due 

 to those who have so kindly contributed to it, and also especially 

 to those on whom the heavy work of editing the volume has 

 fallen. 



The Council wish to repeat verbatim one paragraph of their 

 last year's Report, which runs as follows : — 



All these Conferences and Meetings, and especially the work 

 and maintenance of the Chiswick Gardens and the publication of 

 the Journal, have involved the Society in a very large outlay, 

 and tlie Council take this opportunity of endeavouring to impress 

 upon Fellows the absolute necessity there is for them all indi- 

 vidually (as many as have the Society's welfare at heart) to 

 endeavour to secure new Fellows to the Society, if its work is 

 not only to be continued at its present standard, but still more 

 so if the ever-opening and extended opportunities of usefulness 

 are to be embraced and accepted. The adoption of £1. Is. as 

 one rate of subscription was, no doubt, a popular movement, but 



