iv PE(X"EEDIXGS OF THE ROYAL IIORTK ULTURAL SOCIETY. 
REPORT OF THE COUNCIL 
FOR THE YEAR 1898 99- 
The year 1898-99 has been one of increased prosperity for the 
Society. 
The Council have feU justified in spending a considerable amount on 
the Lindley Library, namely £170, to assist the Trustees in completing 
and publishing a Catalogue of the Library, and also in purchasing various 
books which the Catalogue showed to be wanting. 
The Catalogue was published in December at a price of 2s. Qd. in the 
hope that many Fellows would purchase it. not only to inform themselves 
what books the Library contains, but also because it forms in itself a sort 
of reference list to the bibliography of Gardening. Some Fellows might 
also take note of books still wanting to the Library with a view to present- 
ing them. 
During the past year valuable books have been presented by the 
Director of the Royal Gardens at Kew, Dr. Maxwell Masters, F.R.S., 
T. J. Bennett-Poe, Esq., Miss Ormerod. Mrs. Holborn, Signor Alnio, and 
many others, to all of whom the best thanks of the Society are due. A 
full list will be published on April 1st in the Society's Journal, vol. xxii., 
part 4. Acting in conjunction with the Trustees, the Council have 
purchased for the Library — The Silva of North America, Prof. Sargent ; 
The Flora of Northern America, Britton and Brown ; Nature, from its 
commencement, vols. ; Flora of Tropical Africa ; Flora Germanica, 
Reichenbach, 22 vols. : Flora Pyrenaica, Bubani : Atlas des Plantes, Bois ; 
The ^Yater Garden, Tricker ; Flora of Berkshire, Druce ; Chemistry of 
the Garden, Cousins ; Garden-making, Prof. Bailey : British Orchids, 
"Webster ; and others. 
Under the head of ordinary expenditure at Chiswick £1.850 has been 
spent on the general work and maintenance of the Gardens. Amongst 
other work. House No. 9 and the potting shed attached thereto have been 
painted and thoroughly repaired, Houses Nos. 3, 14, 10, and 21 have all 
been repaired and painted, as have also many of the frames. All this 
•.vork has been done by the Society's own staff of men. The receipts by 
sale of surplus produce amount to £357, making the net ordinary cost of 
the Gardens £1,493. 
At Westminster, twenty-two Fruit and Floral Meetings have been 
held in the Drill Hall James Street, Victoria Street, and seven Committee 
Meetings have been held at Chiswick. besides the larger Shows in the 
Temple Gardens on May 25, 26, and 27 ; and at the Crystal Palace 
on September 29, 30, and October 1. Lectures have been delivered at 
nineteen of the Meetings. The number of awards granted by the 
Council, on the recommendation of the various Committees, has been as 
follows : — 
