THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



6-25 



said least about their services. They have had only one aim — namely, 

 that theSociety should always increase in prosperity and usefulness. 

 They neither need nor desire any advertisement, but it would be mere 

 ingratitude not to mention some of their names. Sir Trevor Lawrence 

 has been President of the Society ever since 1885. He was therefore 

 President when the crisis came, and his loyalty to the Society was 

 unshaken. Sir Daniel Morris was elected Treasurer in 1888 at the 

 moment of crisis when the Society had very little to be treasured. 

 He was one of the chief agents in establishing the new policy of the 

 Society, and had already restored its finances when in 1891 he received 

 an appointment in the West Indies. He is now a member of the 

 Council. The Eev. W. Wilks became Secretary when Sir Daniel 

 Morris became Treasurer, and remains Secretary to this day. Probably 

 he himself alone knows all that the Society owes to him, and he would 

 be the last man in the world to relate it. But every Fellow is aware 

 of something, a peculiarly courteous and tranquil efficiency, that dis- 

 tinguishes this Society from all others. It is to be noted not only in 

 the more important arrangements of the Society, its flower-shows, its 

 lectures, and all its pubhc functions, but in its very circulars. Every- 

 where one notices a guiding touch that seems to be no more than a 

 touch, and it is always the touch of the Secretary. He is also famous 

 as the originator of the Shirley Poppy, perhaps the most beautiful of 

 all annual flowers; and every year he gives seed from his own strain 

 to every Fellow who cares to ask for it. That may seem only one of 

 the minor benefits of the Society, but it is a very pleasant one. 



The Society was founded in 1804 with the name of the Horticultural 

 Society of London, mainly at the instance of Thomas Andrew Knight, 

 P.E.S., with the help of Sir Joseph Banks, P.E.S. It flourished at 

 first and in 1809 received a Eoyal Charter of Incorporation. In 1818 

 it established gardens in Kensington and a nursery at Ealing; but in 

 1822 the gardens were moved to Chiswick. In 1818 the Society began 

 to import new shrubs and flowers from China and India, one of the 

 most important of these being Wistaria sinensis. In 1821 it began 

 to send collectors of its own abroad, among whom were David Douglas, 

 Theodor Hartweg, and Eobert Fortune. Douglas brought from North 

 America, among many other things, Pinus nobilis, Pinus insignis, 

 Abies Douglasii, and the first Clarkias, Eschscholzias, Godetias, 

 Lupins, and Pentstemons. Hartweg brought over 2,000 plants from 

 Mexico and South America ; and Fortune brought from China Dicentra 

 syectabilis, Weigela rosea, Jasminum nudifiorum, and the Tree Pseony. 

 He also introduced the culture of tea into India, so that his mission 



. had results of the first importance to the Empire. 



i Unfortunately, the Society incurred very heavy expenses, and to 



I meet these imposed an entrance fee of £6 6s. and a subscription of £4 4s. 



j This caused a decline in the number of Fellows, and the finances of 

 the Society became insecure. Meanwhile it was holding fortnightly 

 shows in Eegent Street and more important ones at Chiswick, which 



! had the strongest influence upon the horticulture of the time. But 



VOL. XXXVI. T T 



