REPORT OF THE COUNCIL. 



vii 



10. Royal Ag-ricultural Society.— The Council are arranging to 

 co-operate with the Eoyal Agricultural Society in the promotion of a 

 great Horticultural Show at Liverpool in June next, in connection with 

 the E.A.S. Annual Show. Fellows are requested to give all assistance 

 in their power. 



11. Library. — During the year an opportunity occurred of acquir- 

 ing a valuable collection of rare old Horticultural and Botanical Books 

 which had been got together by one of the Fellows of the Society — an 

 opportunity which the Council were only too glad to embrace. 



Negotiations are pending with the Trustees with the object of 

 uniting the Lindley Library more indissolubly with the Society. Legal 

 difficulties stand in the way, but there is every hope that the year 1910 

 will see them overcome, and the union between the Lindley Library and 

 the Society placed on a thoroughly satisfactory basis. 



12. Springy Bulb Show. — The Spring Bulb Show on March 9 

 proved one of the most popular events of the Society's year. The 

 attendance was so large that the Council consider it advisable, in repeat- 

 ing the Show in 1910, to make it of two days' duration, the dates fixed 

 being March 8 and 9. 



13. Temple and Holland House Shows.— The twenty-second 

 Temple Show was a great success, though the continuous rain deprived 

 visitors of much of its usual pleasure. The Benchers — for reasons fully 

 recognized — were compelled to make many restrictions upon the Society 

 during the days of its occupation of the gardens, but it is understood 

 that they were amply satisfied with the manifest desire of the Society to 

 conduct the show with as little disturbance to the quietude of the garden 

 as possible. 



The Holland House Show, in spite of unfavourable weather, has not 

 been surpassed by any previously held by the Society. 



The Council extend their hearty thanks to- the Treasurer and 

 Benchers of the Inner Temple ; and to Mary, Countess of Ilchester, for 

 granting the Society privileges, which, we are glad to say, have again 

 been extended for the year 1910. 



14. Affiliated Societies' Challeng-e Cup.— This Cup, competed 



for by exhibits of apples and pears from our Affiliated Societies, and 

 collected from amongst their members, created very great interest, and 

 was won by the Eoyal Jersey Society, thirteen separate collections 

 having been staged. 



The Cup can be won by the same Society only once in four years, 

 but the winning Society in any year is not precluded from competing 

 for any other prizes that may be offered in this competition. The date 

 fixed for 1910 is October 13 and 14. 



15. Colonial Fruit Show.— A highly successful Show of 

 Colonial-grown Fruit was opened on December 1, and gave much satis- 



