Viii PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The Council have also thought it well to make an attempt to 

 encourage individual research and effort in obtaining new plants' 

 either by importation or hybridisation, and to this end are offering 

 the Society's medals as prizes, particulars of which will be found- 

 in the Schedule of Arrangements, 1896. 



The Council desire to draw the attention of all Fellows of 

 the Society to the more extended use which the Scientific Com- 

 mittee might be to them if they availed themselves more freely 

 of their privileges in submitting instances of diseases of or in- 

 juries to plants, caused by insects or otherwise. The Scientific- 

 Committee is composed of gentlemen qualified to give the best 

 advice on all such subjects, either in respect to the prevention or 

 -cure of disease. The Committee is also glad to receive specimens 

 of malformation or other subjects of horticultural or botanical 

 interest. 



The Council wish to express their thanks to the Director of 

 the Koyal Gardens, Kew, for allowing them to consult Mr. Massee, 

 F.L.S., on the fungoid diseases, &c, brought before the Scientific 

 Committee, and to that gentleman for his readiness in giving- 

 them the advantage of his knowledge and advice. 



The Society's Great Show held (by the continued kindness 

 of the Treasurer and Benchers) in the Inner Temple Gardens,, 

 was as successful as ever, and it is a matter of satisfaction to- 

 the Council to find that this meeting is now universally acknow- 

 ledged to be the leading horticultural exhibition of this country. 

 The best thanks of the Society are due to all who kindly brought 

 their plants for exhibition, or otherwise contributed to the success 

 of this show. 



The Exhibition of Vegetables held in the Society's Gardens 

 at Chiswick on September 10 was hardly of such practical utility 

 as the Council had anticipated. Wonderful specimens of culti- 

 vation were shown, but many of the exhibits were distinctly too 

 large for table use, and the number of exhibitors was compara- 

 tively small. It is hoped that whenever another Vegetable Show 

 may be held this meeting may at least have taught us what to 

 aim at and what to avoid. 



The great show of British-grown Fruit held by the Society 

 at the Crystal Talace on September 20, 27, and 28, was of even 

 greater dimensions and excellence as regards the fruit shown, 

 and was attended by a far larger number of visitors than that of 



