Yl PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



REPORT OF THE COUNCIL FOR THE YEAR 1895-96. 



The most important work of the Society during the past year, 

 and that which will have the greatest effect on the Gardening of 

 the future, is probably the recent publication of the Rules and 

 Suggestions for Judges and Schedule makers. 



In response to a widely-expressed wish the Council in the 

 autumn of 1894 appointed a Committee to draw up such a Code 

 of Rules, and it is not saying too much to affirm that no Com- 

 mittee has (of late years at least) worked harder or devoted more 

 time to the Society's interests. The most hearty thanks of the 

 Society are due to the members of this Committee. 



Although actual experience and practice may at first call for 

 divers modifications and additions, yet the result of their labour, 

 as now set forth, is one which the Fellows of the Society may 

 well regard with satisfaction, and which will, it is hoped, form 

 the foundation of a Code by which all Judging at Shows will be 

 conducted in years not far distant. The Code is published at 

 the Society's office, 117 Victoria Street, S.W., post free, Is. Id. 



The year has also been marked by the retirement of Mr. 

 Barron from his long tenure of office as Superintendent of the 

 Society's Gardens at Chiswick — a tenure of thirty years as Super- 

 intendent, and eight years as Foreman — reaching from the 

 year 1857 to the present time. During those thirty-eight years 

 Mr. Barron has devoted his best energies and the most valuable 

 years of his life to the service of the Society, and after due con- 

 sideration the Council have thought it right to make him a 

 retiring allowance of two-thirds of his salary, and have conferred 

 upon him an Honorary Life Fellowship in the Society. 



The Council desire on their own behalf, and that of the 

 Fellows generally, to tender to Mr. Barron their fullest acknow- 

 ledgment of his faithful and valuable services during the many 

 years of his work for the Society, accompanied with the hope 

 that he may long enjoy a well-earned retirement. 



In round numbers £1,765 has been expended at Chiswick 

 this year on the general work and repairs and keeping up of 

 the Giirdens. The receipts from the Gardens by sale of surplus 

 produce amount to £367, making the net cost of the Gardens 

 £1,398. 



