REPORT OF THE COUNCIL FOR THE YEAR 191 6. v 
to put waste lands under cultivation, and to defray the necessary ex- 
penditure upon it ; the influence of which representations may be 
traced in the Order in Council published on December 8 granting to the 
Board of Agriculture the very points for which the representatives of 
the Society had so urgently pleaded. 
3. The Hall. — It will be remembered that in 1914 the Society 
voluntarily gave up its Hall for the use of the Westminster Dragoons 
who occupied it for several months, when it was again returned to the 
Society. The next request for its use was made on behalf of the 
Australian Imperial Force, in the early part of July — a request which, 
in accordance with the Council's policy, was without hesitation 
agreed to — but owing to unforeseen difficulties at the War Office the 
Australians were not able to move in until the last month of the year. 
4. Temporary Premises. — Owing to the occupation of our own Hall 
by the Australians, the War Office, recognizing the National import- 
ance of the Society's work, have secured for our fortnightly Meetings 
the use of the London Scottish Drill Hall in Buckingham Gate, Victoria 
Street, just opposite the Army and Navy Stores — the same Hall in 
which our Meetings were held from 1888 to 1904. The Offices of the 
Society and the Library will remain at Vincent Square as heretofore. 
5. British Base Hospital and Camp Gardeni in France. — At the 
commencement of the year, large quantities of plants and seeds were 
purchased and sent out to the British Base Hospitals and Camps in 
France for planting there. Many expressions of appreciation have 
reached Vincent Square, including an extract from a note on a visit 
to France by Sir James Kingston Fowler, K.C.V O., saying how well 
furnished these gardens were, largely as the result of the plants and 
seeds supplied by the Society. 
The following is from one of many other letters received from the 
War areas : " May I express my deep gratitude, and that of the 
officers of this camp, for the splendid gift of fruit and vegetable seeds 
sent by the R.H.S. and received here to-day ? It is difficult to tell you 
how very much your generosity is appreciated, more especially as we 
know what large calls have already been made upon it. Your un- 
expectedly kind response to my appeal will be the means of giving 
pleasure to hundreds of convalescents during the summer and autumn. 
With renewed thanks, I am, — — ." 
The Council particularly desire to thank Messrs. Hurst, Mr. Slocock, 
and Mr. Jackman, amongst others, by whose generous assistance, 
coupled with that of our own gardens at Wisley, more than 10,000 
plants and many thousands of packets of seeds have been sent out. 
6. Vegetable Seeds to the Troops in Salonika. — In consequence of 
representations made to the Society, steps were taken in 19 15 for 
rendering immediate relief to the horticulturists of Serbia. Acting in 
