iv PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 
REPORT OF THE COUNCIL FOR THE YEAR 1916. 
1. The Year 1916. — With the single exception of 1887-8, which 
may be called " The year of the Society's Reconstruction," there has 
probably never been a year of such continued anxiety, strain, and 
stress, as the one now just ended ; and though the twelvemonth is 
ended, the strain and stress bid fair to continue. The Council have 
had most difficult matters to decide, and have had constant delibera- 
tions as to how best to meet, and promote, all reasonable national 
interests, without altogether sacrificing the position of the Society 
(itself an asset of the National welfare) with the safeguarding of which 
they are specially charged. 
At the first outbreak of the War the Council decided on the general 
line of policy which the Society ought to adopt, viz. to place itself, its 
resources, and its buildings in every possible way at the disposal of the 
Government for national military requirements, and to endeavour 
to increase to the utmost the general supply of fruit and vegetable 
food-products of the whole country — and this policy they have kept 
ever in view. 
2. Increase of Garden Produce. — It will be remembered that on the 
very first day of the War the Society sent a letter to the Pres^ pointing 
out the urgent necessity for increasing the fruit and vegetable produce 
of the country. This was followed by the free issue of 100,000 leaflets 
containing directions how this could best be done so as to yield an 
immediate result during the following winter. At the same time a 
Central Bureau was established at Vincent Square for the collection 
and distribution of seedling vegetable plants, which the Society sent 
out to a number not far, if at all, short of a million. These preliminary 
efforts being well started, the Society next prepared a series of War 
Pamphlets, dealing inter alia (1) with the most efficient means for 
cropping gardens, (2) economy both in labour and material, (3) 
the preservation of produce, and (4) utilizing it to the best purpose. 
Sixteen of these Pamphlets were drawn up, and 90,000 of them have 
already been issued * ; and of the Gardeners' Diary for 19 16 — specially 
designed to meet War-time needs — no less than 50,000 have been sent 
out. These figures are some indication of how important and far- 
reaching the influence of the Society is. 
These efforts, strictly within the province of the Society, were 
followed by strong and urgent representations to the Government to 
grant power to Local Authorities, under the Defence of the Realm Act, 
* Five further Pamphlets are now ready or in the Press, viz. : — The Cultiva- 
tion and Manuring of the Kitchen Garden, The Potato as a Garden Crop, Fruits 
under Glass in War Time, The Pruning of Hardy Shrubs, The Children's Garden. 
