vi PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Deputations. — In response to invitations received. Deputations from 

 the Society attended the Flower Shows of Truro, York, and Newcastle, 

 and were in each City most cordially and hospitably received by the 

 gentlemen responsible for the arrangements. The Council have, with 

 much pleasure, accepted invitations to send Deputations in 1909 to 

 Birmingham and to Cardiff, and negotiations are in progress relating to 

 another important Horticultural Meeting. 



Deputation from the French Horticultural Society. — On 



June 23, one hundred Members of the Societe Nationale d'Horticulture 

 de France, with their President, Monsieur Yiger, and their Secretary, 

 Monsieur Chatenay, were received by the President and Council, and after 

 visiting the day's Flower Show they were entertained at a luncheon in 

 the Lecture-room. 



Shows in 1908.— During this year 34 Exhibitions, covering 41 days, 

 have been held by the Society. 



Temple Show. — The 1908 Spring Show in the Inner Temple 

 Gardens, now held there for 21 consecutive years, was again a great 

 success, and the thanks of the Society are due to the Benchers. The 

 Private Yiew, from 7 to 12 on the second day, arranged for the exclusive 

 benefit of Fellows, was much appreciated, judging by the number of 

 Fellows who availed themselves of the privilege. The Benchers have 

 again kindly consented to the 1909 Show being held in their Gardens. 



The Summer Show. — By the very kind permission of Mary, 

 Countess of Ilchester, the Society's Summer Show will be again held at 

 Holland House in 1909. The 1908 Show was even more magnificent 

 than in preceding years, but the second day was unfortunately wet. 



Colonial Fruit Shows.— Shows of Colonial Fruit have been held in 

 March, June, and November. 



The November Show was a great success, the applications for space 

 far exceeding all that was available. The Rt. Hon. Lord Strathcona and 

 Mount Royal, G.C.M.G. (who, in the unavoidable absence of the President, 

 was received at the entrance by The Rt. Hon. Lord Balfour of Burleigh, 

 Sir Albert Rollit and other Members of the Council), performed the 

 Opening Ceremony, when a Hall filled with magnificent fruit — Apples 

 and Pears from British Columbia, Nova Scotia, and Ontario ; Citrus and 

 rare tropical fruits from the West Indies ; and fruits and preserves from 

 other Colonies — was displayed before the Fellows and the public. Lord 

 Strathcona testified to the value of the work which the Society is doing 

 for the Colonies, and at the private Luncheon given to the Agents-General, 

 and presided over by Sir Albert Rollit, many were the marks of apprecia- 

 tion as to the value of these Shows to the Colonies, and their stimulatiug 

 influence on the great fruit-growing resources of our Daughter States. 



Spring Bulb Show. — In the coming year March 9 has been fixed 

 for a show of Forced Spring Bulbs, with a view to specially demonstrat- 

 ing which varieties of Daffodils, Hyacinths, Tulips, &c, are best suited 



