Vi PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 



The most noticeable features in last year's work, besides the 

 Conifer Conference, were the issue of a pamphlet on " Fruit-trees 

 recommended for Cottagers and small Farmers," and the im- 

 provement of the condition of the Gardens at Chiswick. The 

 Fruit pamphlet* was purposely issued at a price below the actual 

 cost, in order to promote as wide a circulation as possible. Two 

 editions have been prepared, one for England and another for 

 Scotland. Of these, 52,000 copies have been put into circula- 

 tion, 13,000 being issued at the expense of the Society. 



In round numbers about £1,728 has been expended at Chis- 

 wick this year on the general work, and repairs and keeping up 

 of the Gardens. A further sum of about £200 has been laid out 

 in special repairs, viz. in the rebuilding of House No. 6, and in 

 furnishing a new boiler, &c, to the Great Vinery. The receipts 

 from the Gardens by sale of surplus produce amount to about 

 £630, making the net cost of the Gardens about £1,300. 



The Council of the Society has been in communication with 

 several County Councils with respect to the Lectures on garden- 

 ing which are now being given in many parts of the country, 

 and have undertaken to conduct examinations on behalf of any 

 County Council so wishing it, at the conclusion of these courses 

 of Lectures, and to award suitable certificates, &c, to proficient 

 students. 



The Council regret that the scheme for the erection of a 

 Horticultural Hall has for various reasons been for the present 

 abandoned, and the guarantors released from their promises of 

 support. It is hoped, however, that at some future time, when 

 circumstances are more favourable, these promises may be 

 voluntarily renewed. 



In conjunction with the Lindley Library Trustees, the 

 Society's Library has received considerable attention. All serial 

 publications have been kept up to date, a large number of 

 valuable volumes have been bound, and the following new 

 books amongst others added to the Library, viz. : " Art and Prac- 

 tice of Landscape Gardening," "Manipulations de Botanique 

 Medicale," " Census of the Grasses of New South Wales," " Die 

 Veredelungen und ihre Anwendung f iir die verschiedenen Baume 

 und Strauche," "Flora Bulgarica," " Laubholzkunde," " Nadel- 

 holzkunde," " Orchids, Culture and Management," " Pflanzen- 

 * See Journal, vol. xiii. pt. 3, p. 411. 



