Vlll PEOCEEDINGS OF THE EOYAL HORTICULTUEAL SOCIETY. 



faction. The success of the Show this year was to no small extent due 

 to the warm interest which her Eoyal Highness the Princess Louise, 

 Duchess of Argyll, took in the Exhibition, and by herself attending to 

 declare it "open." The Princess was accompanied by the Duke of 

 Argyll, K.T., G.O.M.G., G.C.V.O., who spoke appreciatively of the 

 exhibits at the opening ceremony. The large attendance of visitors on 

 each day indicated the growing interest of Fellows in this effort of the 

 Society. 



The Trade Commissioner for the Dominion of Canada in a recent 

 lecture before the Eoyal Colonial Institute, speaking of one of the 

 Society's previous Colonial shows, said: " At the Show held by that 

 most liberal and beneficent of organizations, the Eoyal Horticultural 

 Society, Nova Scotia was represented, and shortly afterwards consign- 

 ments were sent to London." 



The following extract from a letter recently received from South 

 Africa also testifies to the good work done by the E.H.S. Colonial 

 Shows : " I trace to your institution of Colonial Shows the beginning of 

 our export trade in Citrus fruits, which in time will, I think, become of 

 the utmost importance to South Africa." 



16. Presents. — ^The Council acknowledge and tender their thanks 

 for several gifts which have reached them during the year. Among these 

 may be mentioned a marble bust of Sir Joseph Paxton, presented by 

 Lord Brassey; a valuable microscope for Wisley, from Mr. C. G. A. 

 Nix; some of Mr. Luther Burbank's recent introductions, from Mrs. 

 Eotch; a large collection of orchids, from Mr. J. A. Field; and a 

 valuable consignment of Vanda coerulea, from Colonel Eippon. Gifts 

 of lantern slides are also acknowledged from the Eev. J. B. Hall and 

 Mr. Arnett, of Corbridge; Mr. E. Beckett, V.M.H. ; Mr. Jas. Hudson, 

 V.M.H. ; Mr. J. Alexander; and Mr. W. Wells. 



17. Prizes. — Offers of prizes to be awarded by the Council have 

 been received and accepted from the General Bulb Growers' Society 

 at Haarlem for Forced Bulbs; from Mr. Eobert Sydenham for Bulbs 

 grown in fibre; and from Mr. Eobert Ker for Amaryllis; the Council 

 having fixed the dates March 8 and 9 — the Society's Spring Bulb Show 

 — for their award. Other special prizes and cups w^ill be found men- 

 tioned in the Notices to Fellows. 



18. Masters Lectures. — The foundation of these lectures, in 

 memory of the late Dr. Masters, F.E.S., V.M.LI., led the Council to 

 invite Professor Hugo de Vries, of Amsterdam, to deliver the first two 

 lectures during 1909, his subjects being (1) " Masters' Vegetable Terat- 

 ology," and (2) "The Production of Horticultural Varieties." Both 

 were well attended, and are fully reported in the Society's Journal. 

 The Masters Lecturer in 1910 will be Mr. A. D. Hall, F.E.S., of 

 Eothamsted, who will speak on February 22 and March 22 on the 

 " Adaptation of the Plant to the Soil." 



