CCXVlll PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



All the official representatives of the different Colonies have accepted 

 invitations to serve on a list which I think we ought to call an 

 Empire " " list of honour." 



In this list are included the names of many gentlemen which have 

 been furnished by the Agents- General as representative horticulturists 

 in their various Colonies. 



A very full list of names has been placed upon a Foreign list of 

 honour, all invitations having been accepted with great cordiality. 

 There is already very keen interest in the Exhibition among Continental 

 horticulturists, and we shall without doubt have a record number of 

 visitors from abroad. > 



For administrative purposes and to comply with the existing laws 

 on the subject, it has not been found possible to avoid making the 

 Exhibition a limited liability company of which the members of the 

 Executive are compulsory shareholders. 



The Sub-Committees already appointed are: (1) Finance; 

 (2) Schedule; (3) Reception; (4) Show and Site. I may group a few 

 general remarks under these heads. 



Finance. — It has been decided that any surplus funds shall be 

 devoted to scientific, charitable, or educational purposes to be determined 

 hereafter. 



The first consideration, of course, is the establishment of an adequate 

 Guarantee Fund. The R.H.S. has generously started the ball with a 

 guarantee of £4,000 under certain conditions, in addition to subscribing 

 £1,000 towards preliminary expenses. ' 



Several donations and large guarantees have already been promised, 

 and matters are now nearly ready for making a systematic appeal to 

 the public. 



I hope we may soon be able to prepare an estimate giving some idea 

 of the expenses for the Exhibition. I may remind you that the 

 expenses of the 1866 Exhibition were about £12,500 and the profits 

 were nearly £3,500. 



Sir Jeremiah Colman has kindly undertaken the heavy and 

 responsible work of the Hon. Treasurer ship. 



Schedule Committee. — The preliminary Schedule is on the point of 

 completion by the Sub-Committee, but it has yet to be submitted to 

 the Executive Committee before it can be printed. The hmitations of 

 ground-space impose great difficulties on the Executive. 



A phrase in everybody's mouth is the hope that the Exhibition will 

 not be merely a " glorified Temple show." You will be able to give 

 an assurance that so far as lies in the power of the Executive, it 

 is intended to hold a real hiternational Horticultural Exhibition. 



Site and Show Committee. — The Executive Committee has settled 

 on Chelsea Hospital Gardens for the site. This would be perfect if it 

 were only a little larger. The open space available is about 16| acres, 

 and there are in addition about 4 acres of trees and shrubs, which will 

 make a fine background for exhibits. The area of the 1866 site was 

 only 4 to 5 acres. 



