iv PEOCEEDINGS OF THE HOYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



expenditure at Vincent Square compared with that at the Drill Hall, the 

 credit belance on the year's working is £6,203. 



3. Deputations. — The Society was represented at the great Inter- 

 national Horticultural Show at Paris in May 1905 by Sir Albert Rollit, Bart., 

 M.P., Major Holford, C.I.E., C.V.O., Mr. J. Gurney Fowler, Mr. Harry J. 

 Veitch, F.L.S., and the Secretary, who were empowered by the Council to 

 award the Society's Medals to exhibits of conspicuous excellence. It is 

 needless to say that the Members of the deputation were welcomed with 

 all the enthusiastic vivacity for which our friends over the Channel are 

 so universally renowned ; everything they could do to promote the 

 geniality and friendly feeling of the meeting was done ; and as a slight 

 acknowledgment of the gracious reception accorded to the deputation by 

 the President of the Republic and Madame Loubet, the Council presented 

 him with the Society's Flora Medal in Gold suitably inscribed, with 

 which Monsieur Loubet expressed himself as being much gratified. 

 Another deputation consisting of the President, Mr. George Bunyard, 

 V.M.H., Mr. James Hudson, V.M.H., Mr. A. H. Pearson, Mr. H. B. May, 

 Mr. H. J. Veitch, F.L.S., and the Secretary, visited the International 

 Horticultural Exhibition at Edinburgh, on September 13, when Medals 

 were also awarded, and the deputation met with every kindness and 

 attention, receiving a truly Scotch welcome. 



4. The Council. — In the spring of 1905 the Council heard with the 

 deepest regret that, owing to the state of his health, Baron Schroder was 

 unable to continue to occupy his seat on their board. As this decision 

 was definite, had it been possible the Council would at once have invited 

 the Fellows to put so honoured a name on the list of Vice-Presidents of 

 the Society, but as it was found that this could only be done at an 

 annual meeting, they had no choice but to postpone it till the present 

 occasion when they are confident that the heartiness of the vote of the 

 Fellows will be in no way affected by the unavoidable delay. Baron 

 Schroder's services to the Society and to horticulture generally are such 

 as will ever make his name respected and beloved by all gardeners and 

 plant lovers who will, one and all, join in wishing that he may enjoy 

 many years of rest in his retirement. 



A very heavy loss to the Council and to the Society — as indeed to 

 many other public institutions — was experienced towards the close of 

 the year by the death of the Right Hon. the Earl of Ilchester, who took 

 the liveliest interest in the welfare of the Society and regularly attended 

 the Meetings of Council up to within a few weeks of his death. The 

 very successful summer Shows which were held in the Park of Holland 

 House, Kensington, in 1902, 1903, and 1904, are fresh in the memory of 

 everyone, and only quite recently he had again given permission for the 

 Show to be repeated on July 10 and 11, 1906, a privilege which has since 

 been most kindly confirmed by the Dowager Countess of Ilchester. 



5. Retiring" Members of Council.— Under Bye-Law 60 the three 

 members of Council who have been longest in ofiice retire each year, but 

 are eligible for re-election. The three thus retiring this year are Major 

 Holford, C.V.O., C.I.E., Mr. H. B. May, and the Hon. W. F. D. 



