CCCXli PROCEEDINGS OF THS ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



particularly requested that letters and specimens may be timed to reach 

 Vincent Square by the first post on the mornings of the Fortnightly 

 Meetings, so as to be laid before the Scientific or other Committees at once. 



28. INSPECTION OF FELLOWS' GARDENS. 



The Inspection of Gardens belonging to Fellows is conducted by a 

 thoroughly competent Inspector from the Society, who reports and 

 advises at the following cost, viz. a fee of ^3 3s. for one day (or £5 5s. 

 for two consecutive days), together with all out-of-pocket expenses. No 

 inspection may occupy more than two days, save by special arrangement. 

 Fellows wishing for the services of an Inspector are requested to give at 

 least a week's notice and choice of two or three days, and to indicate the 

 most convenient railway station and its distance from their gardens, 

 ri-ardcns can only be inspected at the writteyi request of the owner. 



29. AFFILIATION OF LOCAL SOCIETIES. 



One of the most successful of the many new branches of work under- 

 taken since the reconstruction of the Society in 1887 is the unification of 

 local Horticultural Societies by a scheme of affiliation to the R.H.S. 

 Since this was initiated no fewer than 300 Societies have joined our 

 ranks, and the number is steadily increasing. 



The Parent Society offers annually a Silver Challenge Cup to be 

 competed for by Affiliated Societies. (For alteration of conditions, see 

 " Book of Schedules," under date October 10 and 11.) 



To the privileges of Affiliated Societies have been added all the 

 benefits accruing under the scheme recently introduced for the Union 

 of Horticultural Mutual Improvement Societies. 



Secretaries of Affiliated Societies can obtain on application a 

 specimen of a Card which the Council have prepared for the use of 

 Affiliated Societies for Certificates, Commendations, &c. Price 3s. 6<i. 

 for 10 copies, 5s. Qd. for 20, lis. ^d. for 50, 20s. for 100. 



The Council have also struck a special Medal for the use of Affiliated 

 Societies. It is issued at cost price in Bronze, Silver, and Silver-gilt — 

 viz. Bronze, 5s. Qtd., with case complete ; Silver, 12s. Qd., with case 

 complete ; Silver-gilt, 16s. 6(i., with case complete. Award Cards having 

 the Medal embossed in relief can be sent with the Medal if ordered, price 

 6c2. each. 



30. UNION OF HORTICULTURAL MUTUAL 

 IMPROVEMENT SOCIETIES. 



This Union has been established for the encouragement and assistance 

 of Horticultural Mutual Improvement Societies, the object being to 

 strengthen existing Societies, to promote interchange of lecturers, to 

 provide printed lectures, and if possible to increase the number of these 

 useful Societies. 



