THE society' g WELCOME TO JAPANESE HORTICULTURISTS. 419 



but in the care of trees, plants, and flowers there is something which 

 supersedes other arts. They appeal to men of intellect and refine- 

 ment, and, I am deeply pleased to add, they appeal to most men. 

 The Eoyal Horticultural Society is doing a very useful service in 

 extending the love of flowers and in encouraging the growth of fruits 

 and vegetables. It is to be sincerely desired that this Society will 

 always enjoy its present success and prosperity to enable it to con- 

 tinue its influence in Enghsh gardens. In expressing this wish I 

 should err if I did not say that the present success is greatly due to 

 many eminent men present here to-day. In the first place of honour 

 stands the President, who I am privileged and proud to regard as one 

 of my personal friends. It is not courtesy to praise a man in his 

 presence — therefore I refrain from saying more, but satisfy myself in 

 wishing him good health and a still long and prosperous life. 



I am allowed to associate Sir Daniel Morris with this toast. He 

 has done very great service to his country both at home and abroad— 

 in the Eoyal Gardens at Kew, in India, and in the West Indies. I am 

 told that the present prosperity of the Society is partly due to his 

 efforts while Treasurer. With these few words I ask you to join me 

 in drinking the toast of " The Royal Horticultural Society." 



Sir Daniel Morris, K.C.M.G., D.Sc, V.M.H., said: 



I regard it as a great honour to respond to the toast of " The Royal 

 Horticultural Society " on this interesting occasion. I desire, in the 

 first place, to congratulate his Excellency the Japanese Ambassador 

 on the eloquent terms in which he has proposed the toast and the 

 intimate knowledge he has shown of the history and progress of the 

 Society. He has most ably summarized the successive steps by which 

 the Society has attained its present position, and he has delighted every- 

 one by the facility and clearness with which he has expressed himself 

 in a language not his own. The Royal Horticultural Society has 

 attained its present prosperity and its extensive field of usefulness by 

 the happy and long-continued co-operation of all interested in horti- 

 culture, including those who are more intimately concerned with the 

 practical side. Whether the Society has been instrumental in creating 

 the greatly extended interest taken in gardening in recent years I would 

 not like to say, but there can be no doubt that it has fully appreciated 

 its position as a national organization, and it has not been unsuccessful 

 in meeting the demand made upon it. 



When, at the end of the year 1887, the task was taken in hand of 

 reorganizing the Society and endeavouring to give it a fresh start, it was 

 determined to build up a purely horticultural institution, and secure the 

 hearty support of the leaders in the several sciences associated with 

 plant-life, as well as of all lovers of gardens and those in practical 

 charge of them. The results, as we now see them, have been signally 

 successful. We have to-day a well-equipped Society with 12,000 

 Fellows, and a yearly income amounting to £24,000. In Sir Trevor 

 Lawrence, as President, we have a distinguished horticulturist, who 



