522 JOirR-NAL OF THE ROYAL HOBTICULTUEAL SOCIETY. 



as a basis for a report to be presented to the Conference on lines 

 similar to those proposed in connexion with education. Many promin- 

 ent people in this country and from abroad have undertaken to partici- 

 pate, and the Board of Agriculture have promised maps showing the 

 progress and distribution of certain plant diseases and pests which it 

 has been deemed advisable to legislate against. 



One of the most pleasant and at the same time the most onerous 

 duties in connexion with the Exhibition will be the entertainment of 

 the many distinguished foreign guests who will undoubtedly visit this 

 country next May. The Eeception Committee is under the chairman- 

 ship of Sir Ai.BEET EoLLiT and a programme is being drawn up for the 

 entertainment of our visitors, which is being simplified by the hospi- 

 tality already promised from private and other sources. The President 

 of the Exhibition, the Duke of Portland, has generously offered to 

 hold a reception at his town house. Permission has been graciously 

 given for a visit to the Eoyal gardens at Windsor. The distinguished 

 Peesident of your Society in his private capacity, Mr. Leopold de 

 EoTHscHiLD, The EoYAL Horticultural Society, and others have also 

 intimated their hospitable intentions. If the history of 1866 were to 

 repeat itself there would be a great banquet at the Guildhall. There 

 should be little fear that the British gardeners who have visited foreign 

 exhibitions and enjoyed the hospitality offered them will feel any 

 shame at the way their former hosts are treated on their arrival in this 

 country. 



I cannot do better than conclude my remarks by quoting, by per- 

 mission, some opinions with which I have been favoured by one or two 

 foreign gentlemen intimately connected with the management of their 

 own international horticultural exhibitions. 



Herr Siegfried Braun, the Secretary of the Berlin Exhibition in 

 1909 writes : — 



" Much could be said in a general way on this subject, but if you 

 wish to know what tangible advantages for the horticultural industry 

 of my country resulted from the International Horticultural Exhibition 

 of 1909, I personally beheve that one cannot value them too highly. 



" An exhibition, such as the one which took place in Berhn, 

 affords to the experts in their many-sided interests lasting inducements j 

 to further efforts. It shows clearly what has already been achieved 

 and what there is still to learn. This knowledge is in itself a power- 

 ful lever to progress in any profession. Besides, such an exhibition 

 stirs up the gardening enthusiasm of both professionals and amateurs 

 and induces them to spend more money on plants and flowers, thus | 

 conferring an added blessing on the industry. ' 



" It is as instructive as it is interesting to follow up how far these | 

 results sometimes reach in isolated cases. , 



" I trust that your proposed exhibition for the year 1912 may be | 

 the means of bringing tangible profits to your country." ; 



