THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



79 



occupies the same premises. The Society commenced work at once, 

 and Vol. I. of its "Transactions" contains numerous interest- 

 ing and practical papers read before it in 1805 and subsequent 

 years, among them being contributions by Sir Joseph Banks, 

 President of the Koyal Society, on " The Introduction of the 

 Potato into the United Kingdom," " The Management of Straw- 

 berries," " The Forcing-houses of the Romans," &c. ; by Mr. 

 Knight, F.R.S., on " Producing New and Early Fruits," " New 

 and Early Potatos," "Grafting," "Training Fruit Trees," 

 " Forcing Grapes," "Management of the Onion," &c. ; by Mr. 

 Salisbury, F.R.S., on the " Cultivation of the Tuberose," " The 

 Dahlia and its Cultivation," " The Cultivation of Rare Plants," &c. 



In 1809 a Royal Charter of Incorporation was granted to 

 the Society, whose object is therein briefly described to be " the 

 improvement of horticulture in all its branches, ornamental as 

 well as useful." The Earl of Dartmouth was nominated first 

 president, Charles Greville first treasurer, and Richard Anthony 

 Salisbury first secretary ; the Council comprising, among others, 

 Earl Powis, the Bishop of Winchester, Sir Joseph Banks, P.R.S., 

 W. T. Aiton, gardener to the King, and author of the " Hortus 

 Kewensis," and T. A. Knight. In 1812 Volume I. of the 

 " Transactions," previously referred to, was published, though 

 the Society had as yet no local habitation, sharing with the 

 Linnean Society such accommodation as it could offer in 

 Gerard Street, Soho, at a rent of twenty-five guineas. In 

 1811, on the death of the Earl of Dartmouth, Mr. Thomas 

 Andrew Knight, the founder of the Society, was elected presi- 

 dent — a post he occupied for twenty- seven years, to the signal 

 advantage of the Society, and of horticulture generally. Mean- 

 while the number of Fellows had increased but slowly, and the 

 claims of the Society to the support of all interested in gardens 

 and gardening were hardly recognised. But in 1816 the first 

 bye-laws were passed, and the affairs of the Society ordered 

 on a businesslike footing — practical steps leading to such a rapid 

 increase of prosperity that in 1818 the income was £1,791, the 

 expenditure £1,719, and there were surplus assets valued at 

 £4,400. 



In 1818 and the following years an experimental garden was 

 established at Kensington, with a nursery at Ealing ; and per- 

 manent offices were acquired by the purchase of No. 21 Regent 



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